/linkages/journal/
January 1998 edition
Editor: Chad Carpenter, LL.M.
http://www.iisd.ca/chad/chad.html
Editorial assistance provided by:
Kira Schmidt and Pamela Chasek
Managing Editor: Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI
http:/www.iisd.ca/linkages/kimo/kimo.html
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1) TOPIC - UN REFORM
Daniel J. Shepard, Managing Editor of the International Diplomatic Observer, discusses the
current state-of-play of the UN's environmental efforts in "Linkages Between Environment,
Development and UN Reform."
2) UPDATES
Reports on recent international meetings covering sustainable development, trade and
environment, climate change, biodiversity, forests, chemical management, desertification,
oceans and other topics.
3) UPCOMING
An extensive list of over 230 upcoming meetings, workshops, symposia and seminars for 1998.
4) READINGS
A roster of recent noteworthy publications, compiled by Peter Doran, University of Ulster,
Derry, Northern Ireland
5) ON THE WEB
A new feature, "On the Web," which highlights new web sites and recent postings of interest
to the sustainable development community.
This edition, as well as previous editions, is available at
http://www.iisd.ca/journal/. If you have any problems with the file or any other
questions or suggestions, send a message to .
Thank you for your interest
Chad Carpenter
Editor
_______________________________________________________
Linkages Journal (link0301e.txt)
TOPIC
"Linkages Between Environment, Development and UN Reform"
Daniel J. Shepard, International Diplomatic Observer
Ever so slowly, United Nations reform is underway, and if it is successful, it could have a
major impact on worldwide programs to protect the environment.
After setting the global agenda for the environment at the Earth Summit, the United Nations,
beset by financial crises and bureaucratic stagnation, has found itself increasingly
marginalized in efforts to implement Agenda 21, the Earth Summit's blueprint for sustainable
development. Compounding the problem are the growing disagreements among the 185 members of
the UN over the nature of international cooperation in the environmental field. Countries
barely managed to agree to re-endorse the outcome of the Earth Summit when they met at the
UN last June for a five-year review of the Rio conference, and have since disagreed entirely
over the priority that should be given to the concept of sustainable development.
Increasingly, there is a growing realization that environmental policy is being set by new
organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), which is charged with promoting
free trade. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have largely superceded the
UN in the field of development. As one African official said at a World Bank meeting, "the
UN writes very nice programs of action, but it has no money."
The present plan to reform the UN, proposed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan last July,
makes a concerted effort to streamline the organization's bureaucracy, and to emphasize the
areas in which UN has a particular advantage. Such areas include peacekeeping, humanitarian
assistance and development.
Developing countries have demanded that development issues be placed at the center of the
UN's activities. Although they acknowledge the role of the World Bank, it is only at the UN
that they have any semblance of real political power. At the UN, all countries have one
vote, but at other international organizations, such as the Bretton Woods institutions,
power is concentrated with the richest countries.
Broad policy concerns have framed the debate over UN reform thus far. The United States has
let it be known that it wants a smaller, more efficient organization, a position that has
been endorsed to varying degrees by other developed countries. Developing countries,
however, have been jealously guarding programs that are in their interests, and this has
generally meant opposing staff reductions or the elimination of programs.
Annan's reform proposal heavily emphasizes the need for sustainable development, but
developing countries, elaborating on a dispute that has been simmering ever since Rio, now
adamantly demand that the emphasis be put on economic development. While leaving the
chairmanship of the Group of 77, which represents 132 developing countries at the UN, Jakaya
M. Kikwete, foreign minister of Tanzania, rejected the idea that the notion of "sustained
economic growth" could be substituted by sustainable development. "Our group has always
maintained that the notion of sustainable development as emphasized by our developed
partners is restrictive. Furthermore, the group stresses that for any development to be
meaningful in developing countries, economic growth, which is sustainable over a period of
time, is critical and crucial."
While virtually every UN program has some environmental consideration, the organization's
main institutional machinery for dealing with the environment consists of the Commission on
Sustainable Development (CSD), which is the intergovernmental forum charged with monitoring
and facilitating implementation of Agenda 21, and the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP), which is based in Nairobi. There are also secretariats for all of the major en-
vironmental treaties, such as climate change, biodiversity, desertification and ozone
reduction. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) deals with issues concerning forests
and fisheries, and the basis for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) is the idea of
"sustainable human development."
Part of the problem for the UN's environment agenda is that the organization's machinery is
fragmented, incoherent and uncoordinated. Annan's reform proposal places a strong emphasis
on better coordination, a theme he stressed after the General Assembly ratified Klaus
Topfer, once Germany's environment minister, and once chair of the CSD, as Executive
Director of UNEP. Annan said "he comes to us with considerable experience, and I expect
that, with his presence, we will re-energize the UN's activities in the environmental area."
He added that one of the things he hopes Topfer will do is to work on coordinating all the
UN's environmental efforts. "We have all these centers" he said, citing the climate change
convention secretariat in Bonn and the biodiversity treaty secretariat in Montreal as
examples, " and we really need to get them working together as a system and as a team. I
would hope that, as we move forward in the next year or so, that will become clearer."
For years UNEP has seen its reputation decline, with a corresponding loss of donor
confidence in the organization. A report issued last October by the UN's Office of Internal
Oversight Services, found that "the basic issue facing UNEP concerns its role following the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. It is not clear to staff or to
stakeholders what that role should be."
But Topfer is resolved to turn things around. He said it was "not very helpful" to look back
and to ask for the reasons for UNEP's decline. "I really believe there is an interrelation
between the financial administration, political and intellectual development. You have to
cut this vicious circle. That is the most important thing to do."
He added, "I am convinced that the United Nations can and must exercise political leadership
in global environmental diplomacy. I intend to form UNEP into an organization that can
provide that leadership. UNEP needs more concentration on key strategic fields and on
coordination of environmental policy, and to use the synergies from its organization and
programs. Therefore, I am to the utmost convinced that the decision to do it in very close
cooperation with the other institutions linked with the environment is very useful."
"I believe that economic instruments must be used to harmonize the globalization of the
market with the globalization of environmental policy. Being an economist by profession, I
really believe it is a very good precondition to use those market instruments to overcome
bottlenecks of environmental policy. We are looking for win-win strategies wherever possible
to integrate industry and the economic development urgently needed for the developing coun-
tries."
Although Germany championed the creation of a World Environment Organization during the
General Assembly's five-year review of the Earth Summit last June--an idea that was heavily
criticized by developing countries, Topfer said he has no intention to push for moving UNEP
to Bonn or to create a new organization. He said, "I am absolutely convinced that there is
intensive need to stabilize one location in Nairobi. That is the only United Nations
location in Africa. Africa needs urgently this signal that it is integrated in the United
Nations family, so I want to do my utmost to stabilize this position and this location. As a
matter of fact, the preconditions right now are not so very, very good, looking at the
financial situation, so there is a lot to do, but not to move."
Nevertheless, there are some in the UN who still believe that there needs to be an
international environmental organization that could provide a balance to the WTO. While the
German proposal for a World Environment Organization was shot down, when German Chancellor
Helmut Kohl spoke at the Rio + 5 meeting, he said, "global environment protection and
sustainable development need a clearly-audible voice at the UN. Therefore, in the short
term, I think it is important that cooperation among the various environmental organizations
be significantly improved. In the medium term this should lead to the creation of a global
umbrella organization for environmental issues, with UNEP as a major pillar."
Annan still has yet to name a replacement to head the Division on Sustainable Development,
the position formerly filled by Joke Waller-Hunter of the Netherlands, who departed to head
to OECD's environment office. In his reform proposals, Annan said that support and servicing
of the CSD would be enhanced. He also proposed that two committees operating under the
Economic and Social Council--the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and Energy
for Development, and the Committee on Natural Resources--be consolidated with the CSD.
However, this proposal has run into considerable opposition from developing countries. In
particular, insofar as the energy committee is concerned, oil producing developing states
are eager to keep the committee outside the rubric of the CSD because they fear it could end
up binding them to environmental conditionalities.
The other reform proposal with distinct environmental ramifications was to use the moribund
Trusteeship Council as a trusteeship for the "global commons" such as the oceans. Since the
last UN trusteeship territory--Palau--gained its independence two years ago, the functions
of the Council have been frozen, but countries could not agree on a plan to eliminate it
completely.
In the debate on the Trusteeship Council, a number of countries urged caution. In a
statement that echoed many others, Pakistan said, "we should not take a decision in haste.
It cannot be said that its work is over. There are still areas where people are asking for
independence." Secretariat officials acknowledge that the idea has very limited support and
they do not see the idea advancing.
It also remains to be seen how the CSD will develop after the Rio review. Although it has
been wildly successful in attracting interest and support from nongovernmental
organizations, there is still a perception that the CSD deals mainly with environmental
issues and not with the broader issues of development. This perception is amplified by the
fact that most developed countries send their environment ministers to attend the CSD
sessions.
Prior to leaving her post, Waller-Hunter said, in an interview, that the Rio +5 session was
not actually as bad as it seemed, although she acknowledged that from a public relation
standpoint, "it was not a good session. It was rather disappointing." Part of the problem,
she said, was that the time for negotiating was too short. "Rio was a two year process.
Here, we had six months."
There was also not enough political momentum, she said, and "we didn't have a lot on the
table when negotiations started." She added that the proposals that were made, on water and
on energy, came rather late, all while the attention of delegates was focused on the ne-
gotiations for the Agenda for Development and on UN reform. "All the attention was what the
UN was going to do in terms of reform, not in terms of sustainable development."
Nevertheless, she is still optimistic that implementation of Agenda 21 was going forward,
despite perceived setbacks at the Rio + 5 session. "Five years is kind of short," she said.
"It takes one year to have the document land in the capitals and have it digested. Then the
infrastructure for implementation has to be in place. That takes another year."
But she says that the institutional structures have been changing, especially at the local
level. She is "quite pleased" about the shift the world has made in environmental issues
since Rio, especially in attracting the attention of world leaders. She said agencies such
as FAO had tremendously expanded their work on forests to include forest management, and
that the World Bank was also shifting toward incorporating the sustainable development
message.
Although the reforms may result in more efficiencies and better coordination, there are
still some fundamental obstacles that the UN must surmount before it can be an effective
juggernaut to promote sustainable development. At best, a solid reform effort could make the
organization more attractive for fundraising. When all is said and done, it will require a
major tour-de-force to turn UNEP into a major environmental player, given its history, and
its location in Nairobi, where it has become increasingly difficult to attract quality
employees.
The UN's efforts will continue to be hampered in all fields, including the environment, due
to the financial crisis caused in large part by the failure of the United States to pay its
dues. The lack of available resources reduces the need of developing countries to look to
the UN for guidance on environment issues. The resource issue also puts the UN's
intellectual efforts in a straightjacket-without funding on the international level,
sustainable development becomes little more than a remote philosophy. Finally, the countries
themselves have to truly commit to something-the current situation is probably a true
reflection of present priorities.
Daniel J. Shepard is the Managing Editor of the International Diplomatic Observer, a
newspaper covering the United Nations and international affairs. He has reported extensively
on the series of United Nations conferences held this decade for the Earth Times. He is
also a regular contributor to the publication UN Observer and World Report. He lives in
Bayside, NY, with his wife and two children.
UPDATES
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
FIFTY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY: On Thursday, 18 December 1997, the 52nd General Assembly
formally adopted a series of resolutions on environment and development-related matters
submitted by the Second Committee. The following are summaries of selected resolutions on
environment and development issues.
Resolution 52/188 -- Population and Development: Draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.43 was approved
without a vote by the Second Committee on 5 December 1997. It is based on informal consulta-
tions on draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.15 submitted by the G-77 and China on 4 November 1997.
In the resolution, the General Assembly decides to convene a three-day special session from
30 June to 2 July 1999 to review and appraise the implementation of the Programme of Action
of the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, September 1994). The
Commission on Population and Development, which is currently scheduled to appraise the im-
plementation of the Programme of Action at its 32nd session, will serve as the preparatory
body for the final preparations for the special session, reporting through the Economic and
Social Council. The 32nd session of the Commission on Population and Development will be
open-ended to allow the full participation of all States. Non-United Nations Member States,
which are members of specialized agencies are invited to participate in the special session
as observers, as are representatives of civil society, NGOs and all other relevant
organizations and bodies of the UN system.
Resolution 52/189 -- International Migration and Development: Draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.35
was approved without a vote by the Second Committee on 2 December 1997. It is based on
informal consultations on draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.14 submitted by the G-77 and China on
4 November 1997. This resolution urges Member States and the UN system to strengthen
international cooperation in the area of international migration and development in order to
address the root causes of migration. The General Assembly calls upon the international
community to make the option of remaining in one's country viable for all people by ensuring
a better economic balance between developed and developing countries. It also calls on the
United Nations system and other organizations to address the issue of international
migration and development and to support inter-regional, regional and subregional processes
and activities on international migration and development. The Secretary-General is
requested to submit a report on international migration and development to the 54th session
of the General Assembly where the issue of convening a United Nations conference on
international migration and development will be discussed.
Resolution 52/190 -- Implementation of the Outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human
Settlements (Habitat II): Draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.53 was adopted by the Second Commit-
tee on 5 December 1997. It is based on informal consultations on draft resolution
A/C.2/52/L.18 submitted by the G-77 and China on 12 November 1997.This resolution requests
the Secretary-General to address urgently the serious management and financial situation at
the UN Centre for Human Settlements (UNCHS), in accordance with Commission on Human
Settlements resolution 16/8. The Executive Director of the UNCHS is urged to take further
action towards the reform of the administrative and financial management of the Centre. In
addition to urging all Governments and other actors involved with human settlements and
urban management issues to implement fully and effectively the Habitat Agenda, the
resolution decides to hold a special session of the General Assembly in the year 2001 for an
overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of Habitat II. The
modalities for this special session will be determined at the 53rd session of the General
Assembly. ECOSOC is also invited to consider devoting one high-level segment before the year
2001 to human settlements and the implementation of the Habitat Agenda.
Resolution 52/191 -- Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000: Draft resolution 16/1 was
submitted by the 16th session of the Commission on Human Settlements and was adopted by the
Second Committee on 5 December 1997. The resolution adopts the Plan of Action for the Global
Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000 for the biennium 1998-1999, and urges governments,
relevant United Nations and private sector organizations and intergovernmental and non-
governmental organizations to prepare and implement their specific plans of action.
Governments are also urged, in implementing their national plans of action, to strengthen
integrated national shelter strategies based on sustainable development. Organizations of
the United Nations system, particularly UNDP, and other multilateral agencies would be urged
to provide increased financial and other support to governments for achieving the objective
of adequate shelter for all.
Resolution 52/192 -- Follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements
(Habitat II) and the future role of the Commission on Human Settlements: Draft resolution
16/2 was submitted by the 16th session of the Commission on Human Settlements and was
adopted by the Second Committee on 5 December 1997. In part I of the six-part draft
resolution, the General Assembly reaffirms that the Commission on Human Settlements, as a
standing committee of ECOSOC, should have a central role in monitoring, within the United
Nations system, the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and advising the Council thereon.
It invites the active involvement of the Bretton Woods institutions in the follow-up to
Habitat II and encourages non-governmental organizations, local authorities, the private
sector and research organizations to participate in the work of the Commission. In part II
on terms of reference, the General Assembly decides that the Commission, in fulfilling its
mandate, shall assist ECOSOC in monitoring, reviewing and assessing the progress made in the
implementation of the Habitat Agenda, among other measures, through the analysis of relevant
inputs from governments, local authorities and their associations, relevant non-governmental
organizations and the private sector, and identify issues concerning the improvement and
promotion of system-wide coordination.
Part III addresses the structure of the agenda and work programme of the Commission. The
General Assembly urges the Commission to adopt a multi-year work programme for a focused and
thematic approach to the follow-up of Habitat II to assess the progress achieved in the
implementation of the Habitat Agenda, culminating in an overall review and appraisal of the
Habitat Agenda in the year 2001. Part IV calls for all United Nations documentation be kept
concise, clear, analytical and timely, and that to the greatest extent possible, use be made
of integrated reporting. Part V calls for a revitalization of the work of the Commission to
improve its profile and attract high-level political participation. Part VI, on the
secretariat, urges the Secretary-General to ensure the effective functioning of the Centre
for Human Settlements and requests the Executive Director of the Centre to submit to the
Commission on Human Settlements at a future session a detailed report on the activities of
regional offices, paying special attention to the status of implementation of the Habitat
Agenda in each region.
Resolution 52/198 -- Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification,
particularly in Africa: Draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.57 was adopted by the Second Committee
on 9 December and is based on informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.22,
which was submitted by the G-77 and China on 17 November 1997. The resolution approves the
institutional linkage between the secretariat of the Convention to Combat Desertification
(CCD) and the United Nations and requests the Secretary-General to review the functioning of
the institutional linkage, including the financing arrangements, not later than 31 December
2000. The General Assembly also requests the Secretary-General to authorize the Convention's
interim secretariat to act as the secretariat for the transition period following the first
session of the Conference of the Parties until the permanent secretariat begins operating in
Bonn, by 1 January 1999.
The Secretary-General is also requested to maintain the arrangements within the current
programme budget for the interim secretariat to support the Convention until the permanent
one begins operating and to maintain the arrangements relating to extrabudgetary funds. The
Secretary-General is requested to close, on 31 December 1998, the Trust Fund and the Special
Voluntary Fund established under the provisions of General Assembly resolution 47/188 and to
transfer any amounts remaining in those funds as of 31 December 1998, respectively, to the
supplementary fund and to the special fund to be established in accordance with the
financial rules. The General Assembly calls on all countries, particularly developed
countries, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to contribute generously
to the trust funds (general, supplementary and special funds) to be established by the
Secretary-General on 1 January 1999, to facilitate activities under the Convention and to
support the participation of representatives of developing and, in particular, least
developed country parties affected by desertification and/or drought, particularly those in
Africa.
The resolution also calls on governments of affected countries to accelerate the processes
of elaboration of national, subregional and regional action programmes. The international
community, particularly the developed countries, and the United Nations system, the
multilateral financial institutions and all other interested actors, are called on to
support the efforts of affected developing countries in those processes by providing
financial resources and other forms of assistance, in accordance with the relevant articles
of the Convention and the decisions of the Conference of the Parties. The resolution also
welcomes the offer of the Government of Senegal to host the second session of the Conference
of the Parties to the Convention in Dakar from 30 November to 11 December 1998.
On 9 December in the Second Committee, the United States requested a vote on operative
paragraph 17, which reads as follows: "Decides to include in the calendar of conferences and
meetings for 1998-1999 the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary
bodies envisaged for that biennium, taking into account the request of the Conference of the
Parties." The US said that he could not support the current resolution authorizing continued
United Nations regular budget funding for conference servicing beyond the life of the
interim secretariat of the Convention. It was appropriate for the United Nations to fund the
activities of interim secretariats of those conventions as they move through the transition
period and into full operational status. Once those conventions have passed through that
phase, the costs associated with their operation must be borne by the parties to the
conventions themselves. A number of delegates, including Tanzania, on behalf of the G-77 and
China, Canada and Benin expressed disappointment in the US position. After the lunch break,
the Committee approved the paragraph by a recorded vote of 145 in favor to 1 against (United
States), with one abstention (Israel). The Committee then approved the draft resolution as a
whole without a vote.
Resolution 52/199 -- Protection of global climate for present and future generations of
mankind: Draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.55 was adopted by the Second Committee on 5 December
and is based on informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.21, which was
submitted by the G-77 and China on 17 November 1997. The resolution decides to maintain the
arrangements regarding personnel and financial matters established in regard to the
provisions of administrative support to the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change, for the biennium 1998-1999, taking into account the review of the
functioning of the institutional linkage between the secretariat and the United Nations. It
also decides to include in the calendar of conferences and meetings for the biennium 1998-
1999 the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies, entailing
eight weeks of conference-servicing facilities envisaged for that biennium.
Resolution 52/200 -- International cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño
phenomenon: Draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.37 was adopted by the Second Committee on 4 December
and is based on informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.20, which was
submitted by the G-77 and China, and Mexico, on 17 November 1997. The resolution calls upon
States, relevant intergovernmental bodies and all others involved in the International
Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction to participate actively in the financial and technical
support for Decade activities, including those related to international cooperation to
reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon. The General Assembly requests the Secretary-
General to facilitate an internationally concerted and comprehensive strategy towards the
integration of the prevention, mitigation and rehabilitation of the damages caused by El
Niño, including the development of long-term strategies. The organizations and bodies of the
UN system are called upon to contribute further to a comprehensive approach and study of El
Niño and to intensify their cooperation with the regions affected by the phenomenon. The
Secretary-General is also requested to promote an intergovernmental meeting of experts,
including representatives of academic and scientific institutions devoted to the study and
analysis of El Niño, to facilitate the exchange of information and national experiences. The
resolution also calls for increased international coordination of early-warning systems and
long-term public awareness and information programmes.
Resolution 52/201 -- Convention on Biological Diversity: Draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.56 was
adopted by the Second Committee on 9 December and is based on informal consultations held on
draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.25, which was submitted by the G-77 and China on 17 November
1997. The resolution encourages those States that have not yet ratified the Convention to do
so as soon as possible. The General Assembly also calls on the States parties to the
Convention to urgently settle their arrears and to pay their contributions in full and in a
timely manner, in accordance with the decision of the Conference of the Parties regarding
the contributions required for the trust fund for the Convention to ensure continuity in the
cash flow required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties to the
Convention, its subsidiary bodies and its secretariat. Noting that the first national
reports of the States parties to the Convention were due to be submitted to its secretariat
no later than 1 January 1998, the General Assembly also calls upon Member States that are
parties to the Convention to meet that requirement as soon as possible. It would also invite
the international community to assist developing countries in fulfilling that commitment.
Resolution 52/202 -- Implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States: Draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.42
was adopted by the Second Committee on 4 December and is based on informal consultations
held on draft resolution A/C.2/52/L.19, which was submitted by the G-77 and China on 12
November 1997. Canada later asked to be a co-sponsor of this resolution. The resolution
welcomes the action of the Secretary-General to restructure and strengthen the Small Island
Developing States Unit in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The General
Assembly reaffirms the decision taken at its 19th special session to convene a two-day
special session, preceding its 54th session, for the review and appraisal of the Programme
of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. The General
Assembly requests the Secretary-General to ensure that UNCTAD has the capacity to carry out
the research and analysis necessary to complement the work of the DESA regarding the
implementation of the Programme of Action of the Global Conference. The bilateral and
multilateral donor communities are called on to mobilize adequate financial resources to
supplement efforts by small island developing States in implementing the Technical
Assistance Programme and the information network for those countries.
The General Assembly takes note of the progress in the development and compilation of a
vulnerability index for small island developing States and invites all relevant actors to
support the DESA on work to refine the index. It requests the secretariat of the
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, in cooperation with the international
community, to strengthen national and regional partnerships for a disaster reduction
strategy for the twenty-first century, including requirements for effective disaster
reduction and prevention capacities and measures for small island developing States.
Draft Decisions: The General Assembly also adopted two draft decisions recommended by the
Second Committee under Agenda item 98(g): Special Session for the purpose of an overall
review and appraisal of the implementation of Agenda 21. The first draft decision is called
"Implementation and follow-up to the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development, including the outcome of the nineteenth special session of the General
Assembly for the purpose of an overall review and appraisal for the implementation of Agenda
21." The decision takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the outcome of the
nineteenth special session of the General Assembly and includes in the provisional agenda of
its 53rd session, under the item "Environment and sustainable development" a sub-item with
the same title as this draft decision.
The second draft decision is called "Progress in the implementation of conventions related
to sustainable development." In the decision, the General Assembly decides to continue to
review the progress made in implementing the conventions signed at UNCED or established as a
result of the Conference, as well as other conventions relating to sustainable development
and requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its 53rd session a report on ways and
means of undertaking this review. The General Assembly also invites, beginning in the year
2000, the conferences of the parties to the conventions signed at UNCED or established as a
result of the Conference, as well as other conventions relating to sustainable development,
to take all appropriate measures to avoid convening their sessions and those of their
subsidiary bodies during the sessions of the General Assembly.
These two draft decisions were a result of the withdrawal of the draft text contained in
document A/C.2/52/L.29, which had been introduced by the G-77 and China on 19 November.
During negotiations over the draft resolutions there were difficulties in accepting the
introduction of several issues that had been agreed upon at Rio. Important issues regarding
the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests and freshwater were not resolved during the special
session, and the G-77 thought they could be addressed in the draft resolution. The
resolutions will be available at:
gopher://gopher.un.org:70/11/ga/recs/52.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY: The international conference
"Environment And Society: Education And Public Awareness For Sustainability" was held in
Thessaloniki, Greece from 8-12 December 1997 and resulted in the Declaration Of
Thessaloniki. The meeting, which was attended by participants from governmental,
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and civil society from 83 countries,
was organized in Thessaloniki by UNESCO and the Government of Greece.
In the Declaration of Thessaloniki, participants reaffirmed that in order to achieve
sustainability, an enormous co-ordination and integration of efforts is required in a number
of crucial sectors. Rapid and radical change of behaviors and lifestyles, including changing
consumption and production patterns, is also needed. Appropriate education and public
awareness should be recognized as one of the pillars of sustainability together with
legislation, economy and technology. They reaffirmed that: poverty reduction is an essential
goal and indispensable condition for sustainability; the reorientation of education as a
whole towards sustainability involves all levels of formal, non-formal and informal
education in all countries; and sustainability is a moral and ethical imperative in which
cultural diversity and traditional knowledge need to be respected.
Participants recommended, inter alia, that: action plans for formal education for
environment and sustainability with concrete targets and strategies for non-formal and
informal education be elaborated at national and local levels; national councils for
sustainable development and other relevant bodies give education a central role for action;
and all actors reinvest a portion of the savings from the greening process into
strengthening of environmental education. They also recommended that the media be sensitized
and invited to mobilize its know-how and distribution channels to diffuse the key messages,
while helping to translate the complexity of the issues into meaningful and understandable
information to the public.
Participants recommended that: all actors contribute to the implementation of Chapter 36 of
Agenda 21, and in particular to the work programme on education, public awareness and
training of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development; a Thessaloniki International Award
under the auspices of UNESCO be established for exemplary educational projects for
environment and sustainability; and the Government of Greece should transmit the outcome of
the meeting to CSD-6 in April 1998. For information contact the Secretariat; e-mail: mio-ee-
env@ath.forthnet.gr.
AFRICAN MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT: African governments represented at the
seventh session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment set a goal of $11
million over the next five years for a Trust Fund for the Environment. Meeting from 24 to 28
November 1997 in Dakar, Senegal, representatives of 40 governments agreed on contribution
quotas that will ensure adequate and predictable financial resources for the region's
environmental agenda. Once the Fund has reached $11 million, it is estimated that it will
generate an annual interest of $1.2 million to support the programmes of the Conference and
its secretariat. The Fund has already reached almost $1 million, with contributions from
seven countries.
Agreement was reached on a draft constitution and rules of procedure that give the
Conference legal status to provide more effective leadership on environmental matters in the
region. That new status pinpoints its work in environment and sustainable development in
three main areas: harmonization and coordination of policy, in collaboration with
governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector; facilitating awareness-
raising, consensus-building and common positions; and enhancing Africa's participation in
global dialogue and environmental action.
The Conference also discussed environment and sustainable agriculture. As Africa strives to
increase agricultural production and improve food security, the linkages between
agriculture, population and environment should be reflected in national action plans. The
Conference called on those countries that have not yet done so to ratify the various
international conventions and protocols dealing with the ozone layer, hazardous wastes,
biological diversity, endangered species and wildlife and the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change. The Conference aims to raise public awareness on the conventions and promote
their implementation.
Ministers said the UN Convention to Combat Desertification is major concern to Africa and
noted that although many countries in the region have signed it, implementation of the
decisions of its first Conference of the Parties has been slow. The Conference called for
renewed efforts by governments to implement those decisions, including the elaboration of
national, sub-regional and regional action plans. The Conference added sustainable
development and the equitable management and use of freshwater resources to its list of pri-
orities in its programme for the next biennium. For more information contact: James Kamara,
Programme Officer, UNEP/Regional Office for Africa, Nairobi; tel: +254-2-624288; fax: +254-
2- 623928 or Richard Lumbe, Information Officer, UNEP/Regional Office for Africa, Nairobi;
tel: +254-2-623181; fax: +254-2-623928.
FORUM '97 - NEW LINKAGES IN CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT: The "Forum '97: New Linkages in
Conservation and Development" conference took place from 16-21 November 1997 in Istanbul,
Turkey. The conference was sponsored by the Conservation & Development Forum, with a grant
from the Ford Foundation and additional assistance from the Tropical Conservation and
Development Program of the University of Florida, the Municipality of Sisli, Istanbul, and
the Swedish Institute for Development Assistance. Approximately 400 individuals from 41
countries attended the Forum, representing universities and research institutes, government
agencies, development and conservation NGOs, community groups, private foundations and
international organizations.
Forum '97 was designed to review experiments in conservation and development over the past
decade, highlight the most pressing practical problems in the field, and encourage open
dialogue on the agenda for future research and action. Specifically, the objectives of Forum
'97 were to: enhance cross-cultural understandings of conservation and development; develop
a network of stakeholders, scholars, and practitioners who will collectively identify
priorities for future research and action; identify key sites and institutions that offer
valuable lessons for the field of conservation and development and ensure their
representation in this dialogue; forge new partnerships for constructive collaborations at
the regional and local levels; and identify problematic areas of conservation and
development where opportunities exist for new advances.
The Forum had five overriding themes: Engaging Communities in Conservation and Development;
Culture and Ethics in Conservation and Development; Conservation and Development in War and
Peace; Business as a Partner in Environmental Action; and Institutional Pathways to
Sustainability. Participants attended Plenary sessions and several conference sessions on
each of these themes. In addition to the Plenaries and conference sessions, Forum partici-
pants attended a number of more informal workshops, as well as theater and dance
performances and a film and video series addressing the linkages in conservation and
development. The Sustainable Developments report of the meeting is available at
http://www.iisd.ca/crs/forum97/forum97.html.
SYMPOSIUM ON THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY: This
symposium, held from 14-15 November 1997 at UN Headquarters in New York, and was organized
by the United Nations University (UNU) in cooperation with UNEP. The meeting, which was
attended by over 100 participants from academia, NGOs, UN representatives and national
officials, used a series of panels to discuss policy issues and produce recommendations.
Regarding international organizations, there was general agreement among presenters that the
UN institutional framework developed over the past 25 years, while basically sound, still
required significant improvements to meet the environmental challenges of the future.
Participants considered a number of options. One option was to streamline UNEP in order to
enhance its capacity to devote the bulk of its resources to serving a largely coordinating
and catalytic role. Another would be to radically restructure the organization with a view
to enabling it to steer the international agenda and broker agreements among weakly
coordinated actors. Yet another option would be to empower UNEP to cumulate these functions
together with the additional capacity to produce authoritative collective decisions and to
provide compliance procedures broadly conceived. Whatever option was selected, UNEP should
be put on a more secure financial basis either by turning it into a specialized agency or,
more simply and politically more realistic, by negotiating a legal agreement making members'
contributions legally binding.
Participants also noted that the Commission for Sustainable Development had succeeded in a
short time span, in establishing itself as an essential part of the process of reviewing the
implementation of Agenda 21. As one participant noted, it also had made significant progress
in mobilizing the international community, governments, and major groups to advance the
sustainable development agenda. Nevertheless, its effectiveness could be enhanced
considerably if it focused its agenda on multi-sectoral areas that do not fall under the
jurisdiction of a single UN body and if national reporting was strengthened.
One participant also noted that the World Bank was unquestionably much better prepared to
work on environmental issues today than it was a decade ago or so. Nevertheless, a number of
institutional issues still need to be worked through and resolved. Thus, some fundamental
changes in the working knowledge about the capacity of borrowers to appraise appropriately
the "trickle down effect" of Bank-financed projects were necessary. Improvements should be
made to remedy the lack of mechanisms to deal with transboundary regional issues. Solid
environmental assessment methodologies should be developed to improve environmental
assessment for program lending.
Somewhat uneasy about the role of market forces, all speakers offered widely varying
assessments and prescriptions. Drawing on the experience of the Philippines and selected
Asian countries, some participants were circumspect about the contributions of the market.
Focusing on food production, they argued that although there has been recent progress in
agricultural production technology, most developing countries still suffered acute food
insecurity. International pressures on liberalization of domestic agricultural markets had
imposed unbearable constraints on sustainable food production systems. Domestic conditions,
such as poverty and illiteracy, environmental stress, institutional and political
distortions, and political barriers, had also taken a heavy toll. New strategies should be
devised for sustainable food production, distribution and consumption that would include,
among other things, new partnerships and close cooperation between government and non-
governmental agencies that would promote an empowering process for the rural populations.
One participant proposed an approach wherein a wide range of both market and non-market
solutions existed for many problems of misallocated or misused water. But insufficient
attention had been paid to the proper application of these solutions. In the past, inade-
quate attention to the role of markets had caused significant misallocations and misuses of
water. At the same time, the application of market approaches in situations where non-
economic values are high or where certain types of water needs or uses cannot be quantified
also failed to resolve problems, and may have created new ones.
Others argued that in order to secure energy sustainability, long term objectives for energy
supply and demand should be defined. International norms and values related to energy use
should be altered. Energy-related institutions and infrastructure should be overhauled.
Finally, there should be effective monitoring of progress toward sustainable energy. Some
participants noted that in this process, knowledge becomes a crucial variable since it can
harness the power of the market by socializing ideas and practices of sustainability.
Generating new knowledge on energy supply and demand, disseminating widely sustainable
energy knowledge through the formation of epistemic communities, and applying such knowledge
to market-related public and private sectors should constitute an integral part of new
strategies for global energy sustainability.
While recognizing that new partnerships should be developed with civil society, all paper
presenters underscored the fact that it was essential to understand its components and their
interactions in policy processes. Of particular importance in this regard is the elucidation
of the role of NGOs. One presenter noted that NGOs undertake a range of strategies to
advance environmental protection concentrating on three types of governance mechanisms:
states forms of power, economic forms of power, and social power. In this context, he
stressed that it was important to keep in mind that NGOs do not necessarily represent the
public interest. Notwithstanding frequent assertions that they are committed to working for
the well being of the environment, NGOs' understanding of environmental protection was not
necessarily above the fray of political life.
Drawing on the experience of development and environmental NGOs in Asia, another participant
suggested that NGOs have managed to establish themselves as social agents with deep roots in
the lowest levels of society. They have succeeded in creating a public space that is not and
cannot be filled by other societal institutions, whether they are governments, international
aid agencies or the private sector. In her view, under the impact of continued moderniza-
tion, NGOs will continue to create new social linkages and help to establish bridges between
the general public and other social institutions.
Other participants argued that the international activities of environmental NGOs are mainly
aimed at maintaining the balance of power between states and civil society. Environmental
NGOs have not fundamentally changed this power relationship in their own favor.
Nevertheless, they have contributed to spreading new world views about the value and use of
environmental goods and services. They have increasingly participated in the programmatic
activities of international organizations and the implementation of environmental treaties.
The relationship between NGOs and status quo-oriented economic actors interested in
preventing the enactment of measures for pollution control or the presentation of
environmental goods is fraught with conflict, if not hostility. Nevertheless, a growing
industry with environmentally like-minded interests is open to building coalitions and to
providing financial support to pragmatic NGOs. Finally, NGOs may have realized that they
will be taken seriously as participants in policymaking only if they can rely on pro-
fessional staff input. However, there is a clear divide between the large and well-financed
NGOs and smaller and less well-endowed NGOs.
There was a convergence of views among the speakers as to the need to recognize the
fundamental nature of the role to be played by public authorities in the management and
resolution of environmental issues. They differed, however, as to the desirable mix of state
responsibilities and free market forces. One participant stated that present patterns of
energy use and consumption are simply unsustainable. He argued that it is the responsibility
of governments to create incentives to stimulate alternative modes of energy production and
conservation. Coupled with technological "leapfrogging," such policies could lead to a more
sustainable future.
After considering the shortcomings of state-led energy systems in China and India, one
presenter reviewed domestic and international pressures for wider private sector
participation. She found, on balance, that evidence that private sector participation might
assure efficiency, broad access or, over the long term, environmental responsiveness, is not
conclusive. States may therefore need to play an important role in fulfilling the latter
mandate, with active participation by representatives of private market forces and the
average energy user.
On the basis of case study material of an urban environment in Brazil, one presenter argued
that under certain conditions, state and society may come together in a productive and
mutually supportive synthesis in the provision of infrastructure, transportation, sewers and
water, and pollution control. In his view, a "state-society synergy" perspective is a
particularly appropriate way of looking at problems of sustainability and degradation in
urban contexts. Specifically, state-society synergy involves combining complementary public
and private activities to allow the production of collective goods that neither public nor
private sectors could produce themselves. It also involves uncovering shared interests in
the creation of collective goods. Ultimately, though his analysis led him to conclude that
the contribution of local public institutions is irreplaceable in the striving for more
liveable Third World environments, it is important to preserve the capacity and defend the
legitimacy of the general system of public authority that is rooted in the idea of the
state.
One presenter viewed the UN as the main forum concerned with global environmental questions.
In this context, the role of regional arrangements is limited largely to bridging global
programs and national action plans and matters of representation, coordination, facil-
itation, monitoring and reporting. In matters where the environmental concern is region-
specific or if a global convention is not yet in place, then, subject to the support of
member states, regional institutions may play a leading role in addressing such concerns.
Some of the specific tasks that may be undertaken by regional institutions include: the
formulation of regional goals, agreements or conventions; the facilitation of their
implementation by member states; the operational management of regional schemes such as the
management of large eco-systems, inland seas, coastal and marine systems, and international
rivers; and the harmonization and coordination of national policies in such areas as energy
and disposal of hazardous waste.
The presenter noted that obstacles confronting regional institutions are numerous, ranging
from a lack of political consensus and will among their members, competing national
priorities, and limited expertise, financial resources, and institutional capacity. In light
of such difficulties, their roles vary widely and their records are generally poor.
Another presenter mapped the initiatives on energy cooperation in APEC as well as in the
sub-regions of Northeast and Southeast Asia. She concluded that because of investments, the
next ten to fifteen years present a crucial window of opportunity to lay the foundation for
more environmentally sustainable energy use in Asia. In the short term, the most important
step is to coalesce around a common regional vision and long term policy objectives. For
more information contact: United Nations University, Office in North America, United
Nations, DC2-1462, New York, NY 10017; tel: +1 (212) 963-6387; fax: +1 (212) 371-9454; e-
mail:
unuona@igc.apc.org; Internet: http://www.unu.edu.
JOINT DECLARATION OF UNESCO'S FIVE SCIENCE PROGRAMMES: On 8 November 1997 in Paris, the
Chairs of UNESCO's five science programmes presented a joint declaration at the meeting of
the Exact, Natural and Social Science Commission (Commission III) of UNESCO's General
Conference.
The Declaration -- issued by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC); the Man
and the Biosphere Programme (MAB); the International Hydrological Programme (IHP); the
International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP), a joint programme of UNESCO and the
International Union of Geological Sciences; and the Programme for the Management of Social
Transformation (MOST) -- emphasizes UNESCO's responsibilities in matters of environment and
development.
It states that in order to safeguard the environment and sustain its resources for future
generations, governments collectively need adequate knowledge and information. UNESCO should
promote its natural and social science undertakings with this goal in mind and encourage its
Member States to divert resources towards environmental security and towards the use of
science in a culture of peace. Stressing the urgency of increasing public awareness of
science so that scientific facts be allowed to impact policy making, the Chairs urged that
UNESCO use its social and natural science programmes, in concert with its other sectors and
programmes to address the issues of environment and sustainable development.
Noting the need for inter-agency co-operation within the UN system, the Chairs "deplored"
that there is at present a distinct lack of political will to move towards sustainable
development. In the five years since UNCED, the global environment has actually deteriorated
and sustainable development has made very little progress.
The Chairs called for "a fresh commitment to further implementation of actions under Agenda
21 to ensure that, by the end of the next five-year period, some measurable progress will
have been made," and declared as imperative "a shift in emphasis from a situation of crisis
management to a proactive, adaptive management regime."
The Chairs stated that the complexity of problems makes interdisciplinarity and integrated
approaches an important methodological tool and that the natural sciences are going to have
to move beyond traditional research paradigms if they are to understand complex regional and
global natural systems and the functioning of the Earth as a single system. The interaction
between development and the environment necessarily involves both the natural and social
sciences."
In its conclusions and recommendations, the Declaration highlights areas of concern to be
addressed through continued co-operation among the five science programmes and other UNESCO
departments, notably: freshwater; oceans; cities; coastal zones and; biological diversity.
It also urges enhanced training and scientific institution building, particularly in
developing countries, while endorsing the efforts to establish UNESCO Chairs on sustainable
development and related subjects. The Declaration also calls for enhanced co-operation on
the national and sub-regional levels. For more information try: http://www.unesco.org.
FIFTH WORLD BANK CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTALLY AND SOCIALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This
meeting, held from 6-11 October 1997 in Washington, DC, was attended by scientists,
government ministers, economists, lawyers and environmentalists. In addition to taking stock
of immediate environmental concerns, participants addressed the need for closer ties between
the world's scientific, economic and legal communities. Few signatories to multilateral
environmental agreements (MEAs) have so far carried out their legal obligations, and lack of
shared interests between international scientists, economists and lawyers may be a key
reason for this slow progress. By inviting many of the world's leading authorities on the
environment to Washington, the World Bank hoped to resolve many of the issues that prevent
countries from living up to their existing legal obligations and clear the way for new
environmental treaties.
In his opening address, World Bank Group President, James D. Wolfensohn, warned that unless
the world moves more aggressively to safeguard its environment, and merges social,
environmental, and economic concerns together in charting a sustainable global future, the
lives of its children would suffer. Wolfensohn said the World Bank's efforts to help the
poor and the disadvantaged of the world were intimately connected with environmental efforts
to protect the global environment. The recipe for a better tomorrow, he said, is through
partnership.
The conference held a series of related meetings on the current state-of-health of the
global environment, covering, for example, the mounting evidence of climate change, the
steady destruction of the world's coral reefs, and the threat posed to forests and farmland
by poor environmental practices. With the ravaging effects of El Niño and the dangers of
climate change dominating the world's attention, the World Bank conference heard from Robert
Watson, Director of the Bank's Environment Department, that the global treaty to protect the
ozone layer is an example of how a successful agreement is stopping the destruction of the
stratospheric ozone layer by chlorine- and bromine-containing chemicals. Watson, who is also
the new chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said there were clear
lessons to be learned from the treaty's success.
A special drought seminar on 8 October, "El Niño: An Impetus for Strategic Management of
Drought," was sponsored by the Water Policy Reform Program of the World Bank's Economic
Development Institute (EDI) in collaboration with the Bank's Environment Department and the
International START Secretariat. The seminar provided an opportunity for the public,
policymakers, and influential members of society to learn how long-term planning can reduce
the impact of drought.
El Niño, the weather pattern that has been dubbed "the climate event of the century," may
produce severe drought in many parts of the world this year, but with long-term planning,
many of future El Niño's worst effects could be avoided, according to the World Bank.
Participants at the seminar learned that the adoption of long-term water resource management
policies are instrumental in alleviating the crises brought on by drought. Over the past few
decades, demand for water has increased, its quality has deteriorated, and the costs of
developing new water sources have risen dramatically. More than eighty countries, with forty
percent of the world's population, are already facing water shortages, a critical situation
expected to worsen as population grows. The added strain of drought induced by the current
El Niño event could potentially lead to catastrophic water shortages in many of the world's
drought-prone areas. For more information on the seminar and long-term strategies for water
resource management, contact Francois-Marie Patorni at the Water Policy Reform Program of
the World Bank's Economic Development Institute; tel: +1 (202) 473-6265; e-mail:
fmpatorni@worldbank.org. For more information on the overall conference try
http://www.worldbank.org.
TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT
OECD HIGH-LEVEL ADVISORY GROUP ON THE ENVIRONMENT: On 25 November 1997, the OECD High-level
Advisory Group on the Environment presented its recommendations to the Secretary-General of
the OECD, "Guiding the Transition to Sustainable Development: A Critical Role for the OECD."
The Executive Summary to the recommendations notes that the OECD now faces an analytical and
policy challenge as urgent, difficult, and far reaching in its implications as any in
history. All major global ecosystems are in decline amid rapid population growth and
continuously rising real incomes and increasing global economic activity. Yet government
policies dealing with the economy, with the environment, and with equity remain badly
disconnected and often in direct conflict.
The Group's overarching recommendation is that the OECD, given its unique ability through
systematic analysis and peer review to develop a shared framework of strategic policy,
should become the lead international organization in harmonizing those policies. It should
begin this process by formally reinterpreting Article 1 of its original Convention to
redefine its commitment to "sustainable economic growth" to mean growth that sustains human
and environmental, as well as economic capital. This would be its first step towards
adopting sustainable development as an overarching strategic priority.
The Group's mandate requested advice on ways that the OECD could can best serve its Member
countries and the broader community of nations, in the field of the environment, to the year
2000 and beyond. The Group responded that the OECD should, as a matter of urgency, develop
into the key intergovernmental organization providing the industrialized nations with the
analytic and comparative framework of policy necessary for their economies to make the tran-
sition to sustainable development. It should assist Member countries to take the lead in the
transition to global sustainable development and to set compelling examples for the
developing countries in integrating market and environmental concerns. It should also
develop a comprehensive set of robust indicators of progress towards making economic,
environmental and social policies mutually reinforcing and should build the use of such
indicators into the existing fabric of country reviews and outlook reports. The Group also
noted that given the slow progress towards sustainability since Rio, both of governments and
their multilateral organizations, the OECD should use its convening power to create two new
forums for the development of effective policies to promote sustainable development: a
consultative committee for business and industry, trade unions, and civil society groups;
and a consultative parliamentary committee.
Regarding specific tasks, the Group was to discuss the OECD's comparative advantage in the
field of environment and sustainable development, given the other regional and global
institutions active in the field, as well as bilateral programmes. The Group agreed that the
OECD's comparative advantage is its unique ability through systematic analysis, comparison,
and peer review to develop a shared framework of strategic policy for making the transition
to sustainable development. No other global or regional institution has the capacity to
build the crosscutting teams of policy-makers necessary for the successful integration of
economic, environmental, and social policy that is the basis of sustainable development. The
effective methods used by the OECD to develop a shared framework for economic development
should now be used to develop an equally vigorous framework for progress towards sustainable
development.
The Group also recommended that these comparative advantages should be used in pursuit of
strategic objectives. Regarding near- and medium-term priorities for environmental issues
and sustainable development, the Group said that the OECD should begin placing as much
emphasis on improving resource efficiency as it has traditionally put on improving labor
productivity. This would promote eco-efficiency in the broadest meaning of the term. The
OECD should also accelerate efforts to shift some of the burden of taxation from employment
and savings to resources and pollution, to decrease the use of perverse and environmentally
damaging subsidies, and to integrate more closely environmental with trade and investment
rules.
The OECD should also work with governments to improve and develop systems of environmental
governance to enable more effective co-ordination of environmental, economic and sectoral
policies necessary for the transition to sustainable development. This would help in the
task of removing obstacles to the greater employment of economic instruments, the
preparation of national budgets that more properly reflect sustainable development
priorities, and the more effective use of government decision-making processes and procure-
ment to support sustainability.
Regarding external linkages, the Group said the OECD should be even more open to inviting
appropriate international organizations, such as the WTO, the World Bank and the
secretariats of UN conventions, to participate in its work. The OECD should make its work
more available to international organizations, especially regional economic organizations
such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation Forum (APEC) and the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR).
In its cooperation with non-Member countries, particularly the "Big Five" (Brazil, China,
India, Indonesia and Russia), the OECD should work with these nations to define what
sustainable development means in terms of national goals, in terms of articulating those
goals, and in terms of avoiding the unsustainable development patterns of the industrial
nations. The Group also called upon the Secretary-General to convene a stakeholder forum to
undertake an external review of reports to governments suggested for coming years.
When asked how OECD could strengthen its influence on environmental policy making at the
national and international levels, the Group said the OECD must accept a mission to explain
both the need for and the means to a rapid transition to sustainable development. This can
be accomplished through a more aggressive and modern communications and publishing
programme, expanded engagement with relevant constituencies, and by dialogue with audiences
through its convening power. The OECD must also engage the finance and trade ministers in
efforts to make the economy and the environment mutually reinforcing and should organize a
meeting of Heads of State/Government to endorse a report on the overarching theme of
sustainable development.
When asked what type of internal OECD structure/arrangements will be required, the Group
said the Secretary-General must act as the chief sustainable development officer of the
OECD, chair a Management Committee on Sustainable Development, which includes all of the
directors and heads of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency
(NEA), and establish a small unit to support him and his Management Committee in the
substantive and administrative aspects of OECD's work on sustainable development. Each OECD
Directorate and Committee should review its mandate and the strategic directions of its work
programme to ensure that they reflect the goals of sustainable development. For information
contact: OECD, 2 rue André Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France; tel: + 33 (0)1 45 24 81 19;
fax: +33 (0)1 45 24 80 07; e-mail: news.contact@oecd.org.
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT: At its meeting on 24-25 Novem-
ber 1997, the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
addressed services and the environment (Item 9 of its Work Programme) and relations with
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations (Item 10). The US introduced a new
paper on how trade liberalization in the services sector could yield environmental benefits
(WT/CTE/W/70).
The US paper examines the potential benefits of liberalizing trade in "environmental
services" and was intended to represent a first step towards examining the relationship
between improved market access for services to trade and the environment. The paper states
that environmental services is a unique sector given that the relationship between such
services and the environment is direct and quite obvious on its face. Similarly, this link
between trade issues and environmental quality is also present with respect to environmental
goods.
The US paper describes environmental services as those which generate revenue by fees for a
service related to a project which benefits the environment. The environmental services
industry supplies pollution control, reduction, clean-up and waste handling services, and a
growing range of other environmental services. Building on this definition, the
environmental goods industry produces a range of products related to: water pollution and
effluent treatment; remediation/clean-up; air pollution control; waste management and recy-
cling; noise reduction; environmental assessment and monitoring; scientific, research and
laboratory equipment; natural resource conservation/protection and urban amenities; energy
efficiency and renewable energy, etc.
The paper also discusses the environmental industry structure and growth outlook and notes
that private sector surveys have estimated the environment industry will grow from the
current US$420 billion to US$600 billion by the year 2010 and continue to grow at an un-
precedented rate through the 21st century. Some sources have predicted slightly higher rates
of growth for the environmental services subsector. The paper also considers key barriers to
the development of the environmental goods and services industry. Its notes that in most
countries, the majority of the demand for environmental services has traditionally been
derived from public expenditures and public procurement and that national and international
environmental regulation has been the engine of growth for the environment industry. The
biggest obstacle to the growth of a strong domestic environmental services industry in some
areas has been the relative lack of environmental regulation, and/or uncertainty and
inconsistent application of environmental regulations and standards.
In discussing the effects of trade liberalization on trade and the environment, the paper
states that improved market access for the environment industry increases availability of
services and goods while lowering their cost. Increased competition, a product of increased
market access, can spur innovation which can produce even better environmental services and
goods, which lead to improved environmental quality. Trade liberalization in the environment
industry would encourage technology flows that can help countries build the domestic
capacity they need to better achieve a wide range of environmental goals.
Also at its November meeting, the CTE adopted its 1997 Report to the WTO General Council.
The 1997 Report notes that at its first meeting, the CTE adopted a schedule of meetings and
programme of work for 1997 and all Items of the work programme set out in the Ministerial
Decision on Trade and Environment were on the agenda of the CTE. In order to broaden and
deepen the discussions, a thematic approach was followed so as to allow all Items to be
addressed in a systematic manner.
The CTE held three meetings in 1997. The focus of the meeting held on 21-22 May 1997 was the
work programme Items related to market access. At the 22-24 September meeting, the CTE
addressed those Items that are relevant to the linkages between the multilateral environment
and trade agendas.
A Symposium with NGOs was organized by the Secretariat on 20-21 May 1997. Approximately 70
NGOs participated in the Symposium representing a wide spectrum of environment, development,
consumer and industry interests and research organizations from developing and developed
countries. The Symposium continued the ongoing and valuable exchange of views with NGOs on
matters related to WTO work on trade, environment and sustainable development (The
Sustainable Developments report of the Symposium is available at
http://www.iisd.ca/sd ).
The CTE's report also notes that in order to contribute to the discussions on the linkages
between the environmental and trade agendas, an information session with representatives
from the Secretariats of seven multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and two
environmental financial mechanisms was held on 22 September 1997. The report states that the
information gained from the presentations and the background papers prepared by the MEA
Secretariats was useful and further sessions were encouraged.
The report also notes that the CTE extended observer status to the following international
intergovernmental organizations in 1997: the UN Framework Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
(CITES), and the Latin American Economic System (SELA). For information contact the WTO
Secretariat, Environment Division: tel. + 41-22-739-5091; fax: + 41-22-739-5620; e-mail:
webmaster@wto.org; Internet: http://www.wto.org.
ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION FORUM (APEC): The Fifth Annual APEC Economic Leaders
Meeting (AELM) was held in Vancouver, British Columbia from 24-25 November 1997 and attended
by leaders from APEC's 18 Member Economies from around the Pacific Rim. The meeting resulted
in the "APEC Economic Leaders Declaration: Connecting the APEC Community."
In the Declaration, APEC's Economic Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work together to
meet the challenge of sustaining regional prosperity and stability and underlined their
resolve to achieve sustainable growth and equitable development and to unlock the full
potential of the people. In addressing shared challenges they noted that their economies and
the international community as a whole have a strong interest in seeing a quick and enduring
restoration of financial stability and healthy and sustainable growth and said they were
convinced that open markets bring significant benefits and would continue to pursue trade
and investment liberalization that fosters further growth. Prudent and transparent policies,
particularly sound macroeconomic and structural policies, human resource development
strategies, and effective financial sector regulation are key to restoring financial
stability and realizing this growth potential.
They also noted the critical importance of moving quickly to enhance the capacity of the
international system to prevent or, if necessary, to respond to financial crises. On a
global level, the role of the IMF remains central and the Leaders welcomed and strongly en-
dorsed the framework agreed to in Manila as a constructive step to enhance cooperation to
promote: financial stability; enhanced regional surveillance; intensified economic and
technical cooperation to improve domestic financial systems and regulatory capacities;
adoption of new IMF mechanisms on appropriate terms in support of strong adjustment
programs; and a cooperative financing arrangement to supplement, when necessary, IMF
resources.
APEC Leaders also detailed their vision for the 21st Century, in which they noted the need
for further connections. Regarding the connection of APEC instruments -- liberalization,
facilitation and economic and technical cooperation -- the Leaders noted that intense growth
in the economies of the Asia-Pacific over the past decade has had far reaching impacts on
their societies and noted that positive outcomes have been accompanied by structural and
environmental pressures. The Leaders applauded the efforts made this year to integrate
APEC's instruments in addressing emerging challenges.
Regarding the connecting of their economies, their discussions focussed on regional
infrastructure requirements in support of economic and social development. They endorsed the
work that has been carried out this year on infrastructure applications to make city life
more sustainable, in particular the Sustainable Cities Program of Action. They also noted
that rapid growth of urban centres poses daunting challenges such as bottlenecks, supply
constraints, as well as health and environmental concerns, and governments must strive to
ensure adequate access to infrastructure for people in all walks of life, urban or rural.
They also noted that infrastructure is inextricably linked to the questions of financial
stability and said that in addressing regional infrastructure decisions, governments and
business must work together to ensure that long-term financial sustainability is adequately
considered. They noted that cooperation with business and international financial
institutions and development banks can be critical to achieving optimal project planning.
Leaders also noted the need to connect APEC's issues, noting that sustainable development
remains at the heart of APEC's mandate. They noted their commitment to advance sustainable
development across the entire scope of their workplan. They also urged the connecting of
efforts on climate change and affirmed that this issue is of vital significance, and
requires cooperative efforts by the international community, in accordance with the
principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. They recognized the legitimate
needs of developing economies to promote their sustainable development in furthering the
objectives of the FCCC and, in this respect, the importance of enhancing the availability of
beneficial technologies. The Leaders also emphasized the need to connect emergency responses
and reinforce the role of women in economic development.
The Leaders also agreed to the Vancouver Framework for Enhanced Public-Private Partnerships
in Infrastructure Development. In the Framework, the Leaders reaffirmed the Voluntary
Principles for Facilitating Private Sector Participation in Infrastructure Developed by
Finance Ministers, namely: (i) establish and maintain a sound macroeconomic environment;
(ii) establish stable and transparent legal frameworks and regulatory systems to provide a
high level of investor protection; (iii) adopt sectoral policies that promote, where
applicable, competitive and efficient provision of infrastructure services; (iv) increase
the availability of long-term capital required for infrastructure investments by
accelerating efforts to broaden and deepen domestic financial and capital markets.
The Leaders also reaffirmed Finance Ministers' call on multilateral financial institutions
to catalyze and support member economies' own efforts in infrastructure development,
including by promoting sound framework policies through technical assistance, facilitating
flows of private capital while continuing to provide direct financial support for
infrastructure development, and developing innovative financing mechanisms to address the
long-term financing requirements of infrastructure projects.
They also encouraged Finance Ministers to continue to implement the specific initiatives
launched in Cebu to facilitate, in collaboration with multilateral financial institutions
and the private sector, the development of domestic financial and capital markets and wel-
comed the mutual cooperation Protocol signed by participating Export Credit Agencies and
Export Financing Institutions to enhance, on a project-by-project basis, the attractiveness
of infrastructure investment for private sector participants.
The Leaders also addressed the need to improve capacities and the importance of information
in supporting the participation of the private sector, especially small and medium-sized
enterprises, in infrastructure projects. To meet these goals, the Leaders called on
Ministers to: improve the availability of information to support participation in
infrastructure investment by the widest possible range of companies, including by small and
medium-sized enterprises, both on a solicited and unsolicited basis; and foster effective
consultations to ensure that planned infrastructure meets communities' needs. For more
information try Canada's APEC Website at http://www.apec97.gc.ca or the APEC Homepage at:
http://www.apecsec.org.sg.
UNEP AND ASIAN PRODUCTIVITY ORGANIZATION (APO) JOINT WORKSHOP ON GREEN PRODUCTIVITY AND
CLEANER PRODUCTION: This workshop was organized by UNEP and the Asian Productivity
Organization (APO) in Bangkok, Thailand from 10-11 November 1997. The central message
emerging from the meeting was that better environmental performance need not cost companies
money. Business enterprises can save money and reduce their pollution by cutting back on
waste, making better use of energy and raw materials, and tapping human ingenuity in the
search for more efficient and cleaner operations.
The meeting was convened to get more companies and organizations of all types committed to
preventive environmental protection approaches. The approach was to build national
capacities through training, undertaking convincing demonstration projects, providing
information on better practices and technologies, and influencing government policies.
The workshop brought together 50 experts from over 30 countries, including those from
National Productivity Organizations, National Cleaner Production Centres, government
officials, and technologists for discussions, sharing of experiences and joint planning. The
workshop was organized with the help of the Thailand Environment Institute and the Thailand
Productivity Institute. It was the first of a number of joint activities planned between APO
and UNEP to promote improved environmental management in Asia. The hope is to establish
centres-of-excellence in more Asian countries, modeled on the successful UNIDO-UNEP National
Cleaner Production Centres now operating in 10 countries around the world. For additional
information contact: the Asian Productivity Organization, 4-14, Akasaka 8-Chome, Minato-Ku,
Tokyo 107, Japan; tel: +81-3-3408-7222; fax: +81-3-3408-7220 or UNEP Industry and En-
vironment, 39-43, quai Andre Citroen, 75739 Paris Cedex 15, France; tel: +33-1-4437-1450;
fax: +33-1-4437-1474; e-mail: unepie@unep.fr
THAMMASAT RESOLUTION ON SUI GENERIS RIGHTS: The "Thammasat Resolution" was adopted at an
international seminar on Sui Generis rights held on the Thammasat campus outside Bangkok,
Thailand from 1-6 December 1997. At the meeting, attended by 45 representatives of
indigenous, peasant, non-governmental, academic and governmental organizations from 19
countries, participants studied, assessed and developed a response to the increasing
privatization of biodiversity and local knowledge. In particular, they focused on the Trade
Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
and resulting legislation at the regional and national levels. Participants focused in
particular on the sui generis rights option for intellectual property over plant varieties
as imposed on all WTO member states by the TRIPS Agreement, as well as on other
international agreements related to biodiversity such as the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD.).
As one participant noted, the Seminar resulted in a clear message to the WTO and the
international community at large about the need to allow for the exclusion of life forms
from patentability and other IPR systems, and the need to recognize true sui generis rights
that help indigenous peoples and local communities to conserve and further develop
biodiversity and the livelihood systems on which they depend. The Seminar also produced an
Action Plan with follow up action to achieve the goals set in the Resolution.
The Resolution notes that indigenous peoples, farmers and local communities have, over
millennia, nurtured and developed the biodiversity on which humanity now depends, and that
such community systems are being destroyed by economic development under the guise of free
trade, "Green Revolution" agriculture, new biotechnology and globalization. They are also
being destroyed by the rampant pirating and monopolization of biodiversity and related
knowledge through the extension of intellectual property rights (IPR) to life forms.
The Resolution also notes that the WTO TRIPS Agreement obliges developing countries to
provide some form of IPR on plant varieties by the year 2000. This may be done by patents or
by some sui generis rights system - meaning, in Latin, a system "of its own kind." In 1999,
one year before implementation in the developing countries, this provision will be reviewed.
Participants reaffirmed their total opposition to the extension of intellectual property
rights to life forms, be it on humans, animals, plants, microorganisms, or their genes,
cells and other parts. They stated they were also adamantly against bio-piracy and the
monopolization of biodiversity-related knowledge through such IPR.
Regarding their understanding of sui generis rights in TRIPS, they stated that the overall
implication of TRIPS, and for that matter the whole of the WTO, is highly detrimental to
peoples' economies, cultures and livelihoods. The sui generis provision of TRIPs gives WTO
member states room to develop their own kind of IPR protection for plant varieties, and many
nations are now changing their national IPR laws.
The resolution states that while some people view the sui generis option in TRIPS as a
window through which other forms of rights over biodiversity can be articulated in
legislation, the participants believe that such rights will be linked to IPR and will result
in new and further monopoly rights over plant varieties.
The same is true of any sui generis rights option that could be developed and proposed under
the TRIPS Agreement for local and indigenous knowledge.
In the Resolution, participants reaffirmed their sui generis rights and recognized that
their sui generis rights exist independently of the IPR-based sui generis systems promoted
by the TRIPS Agreement. The Resolution states that these rights are inalienable and existed
long before IPR regimes were established. As legal, political, economic, social and cultural
rights, they are part of peoples' sovereignty and therefore part of human rights. As
community/collective rights, they are indivisible and intergenerational, include Farmers'
Rights and apply to Indigenous Peoples, peasant and family farmers, fisherfolk and other
local communities that derive their livelihoods from biodiversity. Participants agreed that
the rights they are struggling to develop and defend should never be misinterpreted as, or
denatured into, intellectual property rights. Because peoples' rights are under tremendous
threat, they see the promotion of such rights also as a tool for resistance against, and the
rolling back of, the forces of monopoly.
Under the resolution, they state that they will actively engage their societies from the
village level through to governments in the capitals to take part in the struggle for their
sui generis rights, and on to the international level to oppose IPR on all forms of life.
This implies a whole range of information, research, campaign and coalition building
activities over the long term.
Some of the immediate tasks at hand are to: demand the revision of TRIPS in order to allow
countries to exclude life forms and biodiversity-related knowledge from IPR monopolies under
the jurisdiction of WTO; reinforce the defense mechanisms of local communities who are
highly vulnerable to unbridled bio-prospecting and to the introduction of genetically
engineered organisms; support any calls by local communities for a moratorium on bio-
prospecting; and demand an immediate moratorium on the research, development, release, and
transboundary movement of genetically engineered organisms.
Participants also agreed to: assert the primacy of international agreements on biodiversity,
such as the CBD and FAO instruments, over TRIPS and other trade regimes, for the resolution
of these issues; reaffirm the original intent of the CBD for the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity and prevent the CBD from becoming a mechanism for
transnational corporations to trade in biodiversity in the name of "access" and "benefit-
sharing;" and mobilize a strong global movement engaging environmental, trade, agriculture,
consumer, labor, health, food security, women's, and human rights and all people's
organizations in these campaigns. For more information contact: Henk Hobbelink, Genetic
Resources Action International; e-mail: Henk.Hobbelink@igc.org.
CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE
UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE: The Third Conference of the Parties (COP-3) to
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) was held from 1 - 11
December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan. Over 10,000 participants, including representatives from
governments, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs and the press, attended the Conference.
After a one-day resumed session of the AGBM on 30 November 1997, COP-3 officially opened on
1 December at the Kyoto International Conference Hall in Kyoto, Japan. During the course of
the ten-day meeting that featured round-the-clock negotiating sessions, delegates met both
in plenary and in a a sessional Committee of the Whole (COW) to consider Agenda Item 5, the
adoption of a protocol or another legal instrument, as well as issues related to
methodologies to estimate emission sources and sinks. On 8-9 December, the COP held a high-
level segment attended by ministers and heads of delegation. Statements were made by over
125 ministers while the COW continued informal deliberations. The final marathon session of
the COW began at 1:00 am on Thursday, 11 December, when delegates began an article-by-
article review of the text, discussing the provisions related to QELROs, emissions trading
and voluntary non-Annex I commitments at length. The final COP-3 Plenary convened at
approximately 1:00 pm to adopt the Kyoto Protocol (FCCC/1997/L.7/Add.1).
In the Kyoto Protocol, Parties in Annex I of the FCCC agreed to commitments with a view to
reducing their overall emissions of six greenhouse gases (GHGs) by at least 5% below 1990
levels between 2008 and 2012. The protocol also establishes emissions trading, joint
implementation between developed countries, and a "clean development mechanism" to encourage
joint emissions reduction projects between developed and developing countries.
A full text of the protocol is available at http://www.unfccc.de. The full Earth
Negotiations Bulletin report on COP-3, available at
http://www.iisd.ca/climate/climate.html, contains an article-by-article review of
the Kyoto protocol negotiations. The following is the Earth Negotiations Bulletin analysis
of COP-3:
Zen and the Art of Planetary Maintenance
"Falling into the Moon's reflection
From a single petal
Rings of waves
Blown by the breeze
Touching each life."
(A Japanese poem or waka by Mahoroba Kaoru selected for this analysis by FCCC Executive
Secretary Michael Zammit Cutajar. An accompanying interpretation states that each of our
individual actions will together reshape the world.)
Parties to the UNFCCC adopted a Protocol with the unprecedented, legally enforced ambition
of limiting and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that have accompanied the rise and
rise of the industrial era. Appropriately, they did so in Kyoto, Japan's capital city of Zen
- a traditional Buddhist practice associated with mindfulness. During the COP, Executive
Secretary Michael Zammit-Cutajar explained that the Zen path to enlightenment requires a
practitioner to break through mental boundaries imposed by established ways of looking at
the world.
The Kyoto Protocol will become a 21st century koan, a Zen- like riddle or challenge to break
through boundaries imposed by political, economic, technical and cultural practices deeply
embedded in the Annex I capitals of a development model whose leading export to the rest of
the world is an unsustainable state of mind.
The most immediate constraints on thought lingering in Kyoto were hangovers from the
original FCCC process. They took the familiar form of hesitations when Parties were
confronted with the prospect of adopting a legally binding agreement. They remained through
the AGBM process that concluded the Sunday before COP-3, when delegates stuck fast to their
established negotiating positions. And they help to explain the gaps between the FCCC's
stated goal and actual impact. Parties readily acknowledge the ineffectiveness of their
commitments to alter energy and economic patterns and thus prevent harmful changes in the
climate system. The Kyoto Protocol will, inevitably, be described as a first step. Another
first step. In the absence of more ambitious reduction and limitation targets it can be no
more. Moreover, while the question of equity struggles to find a place in the calculations
of negotiators, the ambition to universalize the imperative of reducing global GHG trends
through expanded participation by developing countries remains several steps down the road.
In the meantime, the ethical question is condemned to caricature in exchanges within and
with the G-77 and China.
The Executive Secretary's challenge permits a wide range of interpretations and, like Zen
itself, can offer few conclusive answers before inquirers embark on their own quest. This
analysis will limit itself to three aspects of what was an intense, intricate negotiating
experience:
The strategic paths and influences of the key players;
The utility of a negotiating paradox; and
The question of whether a return to the marketplace can both serve and reconcile the higher
purposes of equity, climate change protection, and a credible protocol that sends a strong
and clear signal to the stakeholders about the virtuous path of sustainable energy
production and consumption.
The Zen of Strategy
Throughout the negotiating process the EU, the US and Japan were in constant communication
both within the precincts of the Kyoto International Conference Hall and by telephone.
Meanwhile, the US, including Vice President Al Gore during his high profile visit to the
COP, maintained high-level contact with key developing country partners. As Zammit Cutajar
suggested, Kyoto was a conference of the hammer and the hotline. He might have added hype.
While the EU provided the ambition that drove the numerical targets of the agreed Protocol,
the US played an influential role in shaping the institutional approach to implementation,
notably with emissions trading. With the latitude provided by an ecologically literate
constituency, the EU targeted US reticence and championed NGO concerns about proliferating
loopholes, including those associated with sinks and trading. In doing so, the EU was also
targeting the flexibility with which the US and other JUSSCANZ countries sought to reduce
the domestic impact of the limitation and reductions targets. Celebrated by NGOs for its
role, the EU stumbled a little over its own institutional clumsiness. The US perception of
the EU approach to the negotiation was this: "They were having more fun being green than in
being practical. We had to convince everyone else." Some tensions emerged when members of
the larger EU group (Germany in particular) resisted giving the lead negotiators in the
Troika - the UK, Netherlands and Luxembourg - the flexibility they needed to respond rapidly
to new positions and red herrings, notably those of the US.
There were also tensions over issues such as emissions trading, with countries such as the
UK more culturally receptive to adopting market-oriented mechanisms than some others. The EU
gained inclusion of policies and measures according to "national circumstances" and
permission to form a bubble, relenting on expressed resistance to six gases, sinks,
emissions trading, and broader differentiation of targets.
The G-77/China - or rather the key players who skillfully swing the bloc - played an
effective role in defeating an article on voluntary commitments for developing countries,
but left observers wondering whether they would go on to a broader victory. In a clever
play, India and China led off a debate on emissions trading, ambushing the US and JUSSCANZ
and succeeding in delaying the pace at which trading will come into effect. In doing so in
the closing hours of the negotiations, they signaled decisive opposition to the article on
voluntary commitments and exhausted all proponents. As a result, the article on voluntary
commitments was dropped.
The complex, ambiguous and virtual world of G-77/China "interests" was demonstrated by
Brazil's role in brokering a Clean Development Fund. With US sponsorship, this idea became
the clean development mechanism - a hybrid institution which brings together credited joint
implementation and emissions trading, all with "certified" voluntary developing country
participation. US negotiators attracted other Latin American supporters who, in the words of
one observer, "had their national interests explained to them."
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) became the focus of the biggest trade-off of the
negotiations, according to one observer. Even in the face of China and India's continued
resistance, the US and its allies gained considerable ground with the CDM and declarations
supporting voluntary participation by Mexico, the Republic of Korea and others.
Brazil and the US led development of the CDM. Originally presented by Brazil as a means of
financing projects through penalties for non-compliance, the CDM, as established, will
facilitate emission reduction projects in developing countries financed by developed
countries. The developed countries, after the projects and their emissions are certified,
can use those emissions as credits against their own reduction objectives, a form of joint
implementation with credit the US and others have long argued for.
The idea gained unstoppable momentum as the US recognized it as a politically correct avenue
for getting some key developing countries on board. It may also become a contentious source
of off-shore tradable emissions credits for Annex I countries. Just who stands to gain most
from the CDM will only become clear when outstanding questions are answered: will the GEF or
the World Bank control the new Mechanism and where will the new institution be located?
Overall, developing countries helped push higher targets by supporting an emissions
reduction position close to that of the EU. Developing countries vetoed the broad inclusion
of voluntary commitments and a stigmatized form of joint implementation, and helped craft
the CDM, eventually accepting the flexibility and differentiation approach to QELROs that
they had earlier resisted. Led by the eloquent Ambassador Slade from Samoa, AOSIS continued
to provide the formative conscience of the Convention and the Protocol process. AOSIS
maintained its moral voice, although the group's influence within the G-77 was often muted
by those allied to OPEC interests.
NGOs and members of the "fourth estate" - the media - played a pivotal role that paralleled
the remote negotiations going on between presidents and prime ministers. Their experts
provided back-up information and analyses to delegations ready to listen, their
communication experts produced press releases in Kyoto and at home within hours of
developments, and their traditional activists staged colorful and thought provoking actions
ranging from a Friends of the Earth award for the top dirty industries and penguins
sculptured in ice, to a procession which raised the specter of the environmental martyrs of
the Ogoni people in Nigeria to link human rights to climate change politics.
NGOs played a pivotal role in identifying and advising receptive delegations on loopholes in
the proposals, notably in emissions trading and sinks. At a meeting with NGOs, Vice
President Gore also proved receptive to advice on moderating the content of his Plenary
speech on the need for developing country commitments.
The Utility of Negotiating Paradox
A paradox emerged as major factions in the negotiations struggled towards higher targets
through contrary approaches. The EU and other supporters of an ambitious target, such as the
G-77/CHINA and AOSIS, decided to hold out until the US signaled willingness to improve on
its offer of stabilization at 1990 levels. The EU resisted conceding to the US and JUSSCANZ
members on flexibility in implementation, notably on emissions trading and sinks criteria.
The US and JUSSCANZ required commitments on these very issues to run the numbers and fix
realizable targets. The standoff was compounded by the late - but long anticipated -
agreement to adopt a differentiation formula as opposed to a flat rate, together with the
traditional negotiating strategy of taking the process to the wire. The latter strategy
raises the ante and can serve trade negotiators well, however, it does little to raise the
quality of complex institutional arrangements in the context of climate change politics.
The conceptual model adopted, the so-called "Big Bubble" approach originally suggested by
Russia, provided some scope for groups pursuing both approaches to targets - the ambitious
and the nervous. It allowed Parties to suggest a global reduction number that was
essentially the product of each Party's calculation of what the policy pieces would permit
them to achieve individually. Each calculation produced a range of figures which became the
zone of tolerance to be negotiated between those who stood at each end. Top of the range was
the EU. At the bottom were those countries seeking to actually increase emissions above 1990
levels. The EU had always made it clear that their 15% negotiating figure was never intended
as a unilateral offer. But differentiation left the group somewhat high and dry - struggling
to develop a fall back position.
Where differentiated targets had been based on complex formulae of social and economic
criteria, the Big Bubble reduced differentiation to a purely political formulation and the
negotiating process to something which, at times, had the appearance of a bargain basement-
auction. A Russian delegate recalled how he had been approached by COW Chair Estrada with an
offer, to which he replied: "Not yet. Never." Others compared the process to a shell game,
with frequent second guessing and back tracking once countries discovered what other Parties
had to offer. Within hours of the close of the conference the US discovered that Japan had
agreed on a lower target than Washington anticipated - sending one lead negotiator hurtling
down the aisle towards Estrada to demand an explanation from the man who was largely
responsible for cajoling the Annex I Parties into going as far as they did.
Under differentiation the main criterion became each country's relative willingness to
declare a target level of emissions related to 1990. From the deeply contemplated center of
each delegation's emissions projections, a lack of consistent political will emerged as a
collective political non-decision - as if out of nothingness or, in fact, what one NGO
observer described as Estrada's "black box." In finest Zen tradition, the agreement forms
itself.
Return to the Market Place
If there are precedents for the scope and nature of the Kyoto Protocol they are not
encouraging. One observer suggested that we look to the IMF's now best forgotten attempt to
regulate global money flows, ambitious commodity agreements run by now rusting institutions
like the Tin Council, and those lofty plans associated with the New International Economic
Order. The business of America is business, however, recalled a US negotiator at the close
of the Kyoto deal. So business and the markets will be key to implementation, via emissions
trading and the CDM. The private sector is also the key target group for the political
signals from Kyoto that business as usual is no longer an option. Therein lies the second
paradox.
It is the economic engine rooms of the world - the US, Japan and Europe - who have built
their power-bases upon unsustainable technologies and who must now lead the way in reversing
the trends they have led. Moreover, the diplomats who are responsible for translating the
signal into political reality at home are also among the vanguard of the cosmopolitan
lifestyles.
Another inconsistency in the market-based approach built into the Protocol, according to
another observer, is the US insistence on flexibility while championing the role of the
market. Clear signals to markets will demand minimum uncertainty. Tradable permits will be
akin to commodities in a market where some certainty will be important. With low emissions
reductions targets and high flexibility, great difficulties are anticipated in regulating
and determining compliance. Questions arise as to the value of the new commodities. A
participant at the heart of UN climate change politics, commenting on the Protocol, feared
that it would not go far enough to ensure that emissions reductions would be achieved, for
the most part, at home. Instead, there would be a drift towards off-shore fulfillment of
commitments.
So a central concern with the market-driven approach is the tendency of the market to
facilitate an externalization of the costs or burden. Interestingly, a US representative
conceded to this up to a point. While it was agreed that the classic General Equilibrium
Model can accompany an externalization of costs, this is viewed by the US negotiators as a
short- to medium-term phenomenon. Believers in the General Equilibrium Model argue that in a
trading regime, particularly with an advance signal that the market is about to be launched,
people will exercise their external options early and internal options later. If the classic
model is right, then by 2008-2012 (the first budget period), the US negotiators believe,
they might be undertaking some 60-90% of their emissions reductions efforts domestically -
because the costs will be lower. Coincidentally, that would also imply that both the current
and prospective Democratic administrations can look forward to minimal or only incremental
pressure to adapt to climate change protection at home. Asked if Vice President Gore and the
Clinton administration were in the business of buying time, the US representative insisted
that they were buying time for the world.
Optimists and those with an interest in talking down the prospect of a greater emphasis on a
regulatory regime take the view that the political signal already emerging from Kyoto will
be sufficient. An electric utilities lobbyist said it was too soon to calculate all the im-
plications of the Protocol - notably the inclusion of SF6 - however one thing was
immediately clear: the impact on his clients would amount to the equivalent of a 37% budget
reduction. Asked if the signal coming out of Kyoto would be sufficient to force his clients
to step up their work in sinks enhancement and high efficiency gas turbines, he replied:
"Any more of a signal and we would not be standing here."
Conclusion: The man who has not slept for 14 years
Asked for thoughts after the grueling all-night meeting of the Committee of the Whole at the
close of the negotiations, an Indian delegate told the story of a man who has been awake for
14 years. Like any good Zen koan, the story appears to says little about the original
question: how did Kyoto affect climate change policy? The consensus among the world's
scientific community is that the climate is "out of kilter" and the human species is, in all
probability, largely responsible. Such is the political process, however, that it is
unlikely that political leaders have even begun to formulate the most salient questions, let
alone formulate appropriate answers. The politics of climate change - as demonstrated by the
Kyoto Protocol process - raises dilemmas and paradoxes for politicians whose careers are
framed by the demands of attending to a development model that must now come under scrutiny.
There is more than the weather out of kilter. And for more than one reason, the Kyoto Pro-
tocol text will have the quality of a riddle - designed to raise more questions rather than
provide comfortable solutions. Fortunately, there are two main schools of thought in the Zen
tradition. One holds that the breakthrough to enlightenment comes in a flash of inspiration.
A second, more applicable approach, advocates an incremental journey of trial and error. And
on the journey the important thing is to tread lightly upon the earth.
BIODIVERSITY
LONDON WORKSHOP ON THE REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY:
An informal meeting, hosted by the United Kingdom, was held in London from 5 - 7 January
1998 to discuss the key issues in the review of the operations of the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD), and facilitate preparations for the COP's consideration of the
issue. There were 35 participants from Parties to the Convention, international
organizations, NGOs and the private sector. The significant progress that has been made in
the operations of the Convention was acknowledged. However, participants thought that
improvements could be considered in a number of areas.
Regarding strategic considerations, the Chair's conclusions state that the Convention's
broad scope results in its overlapping with the subject matter of a number of instruments.
For this reason, the Convention needs to work closely with those instruments. Potential con-
tributions that this Convention can make to the work of those instruments are in the areas
of policy guidance and financial support. Potential areas for policy guidance include: the
ecosystem approach; the establishment of measurable goals and targets; and the development
of global and national indicators. The meeting saw the merit of securing the positive and
meaningful participation of other instruments and processes in the work of the CBD, with a
focus on implementation at the national level, including joint initiatives. There was broad
support for the preparation and regular updating of a handbook incorporating the CBD text
and the COP decisions.
Regarding the relationship with other conventions, institutions and processes, the
participants stated the prioritization of relationships is needed. Key priorities include:
the harmonization of reporting; coordination of meetings with other processes and referral
of appropriate issues; developing cooperation with other secretariats, particularly those of
other relevant conventions; focusing on core relationships that have proven to be
productive; developing regional level cooperation; exploring scientific cooperation; and
adopting the revised International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources.
Regarding cooperation on science and technology, participants noted that It is generally
recognized that the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice
(SBSTTA) has an advisory role as opposed to being a purely scientific body. Accordingly,
there was a need to ensure structured scientific input into SBSTTA either through
arrangements similar to those of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) or
through a number of small issue-based panels, which should include members of the academic
and business communities. SBSTTA should not present its results without giving clear
recommendations to the COP.
Participants also noted that effective implementation of the Convention needs the active
involvement of civil society and it is important to foster better linkages between the CBD
and civil society. In order to harness to the full the range of knowledge, skills and other
resources available, there is a need to involve civil society both in policy-making and
implementation under the Convention.
On institutional issues, participants agreed that the CBD is relatively young and much of
its work so far has been of a preparatory nature. It is apparent, however, that the
functioning of its organs could be improved. The first priority is to improve the operation
of existing structures. It is considered that the decision-making process, in particular the
drawing up of draft decisions, could be improved to assist in the preparations for the
meetings of the COP. Views differed as to whether this required a new institution or could
be accommodated within the existing structure. The decision-making process should be well-
structured and well-defined. Agendas and documents should separate decision items from
information items, and items under development from those ready for specific
recommendations.
Regarding the Work programme and operations, the Chair's conclusions state that
consideration should be given to the Convention working under a rolling 10-year Long Term
Programme of Work. Such a programme would be more than simply an agenda for the COP. The
Programme should take into account work done within other fora, in particular the Commission
on Sustainable Development (CSD), as well as the priorities and needs of individual parties
identified in national reports. For more information contact the CBD Secretariat, World
Trade Centre, 393 St. Jacques Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9; tel: +1-514-288-
2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: chm@biodiv.org; Internet:
http://www.biodiv.org.
REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY: At this
workshop, held from 1-3 December 1997 at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the
Caribbean (ECLAC) headquarters, participants discussed problems based on real data for the
gradual formulation of future regulations, rather than reach definite conclusions or
specific recommendations. On the topic of the supply of fishery resources as an integral
aspect of fish production and aquaculture, the workshop focused on achieving sustainability
through the full use of harvested resources, with particular emphasis on the development of
food and pharmaceutical products. Further research into marine pharmaceutical products and
food supplements was encouraged in view of the positive results obtained with products such
as shark fins, fish oil and oyster powder in the treatment of diseases such as cancer and
other ailments, and the advantages they afford in reducing waste from fisheries and creating
new job opportunities.
Some effects of pollution and residue assimilation were described and attention was drawn to
the economic and financial implications of protecting the marine environment from the
effects of land-based activities, and some experiments in restoration and clean-up were
mentioned. With respect to the use of coastal and marine areas as public goods capable of
generating direct profit (scenic beauty, recreation, tourism), participants reported on eco-
tourism in such areas, on the implications of such ventures for sustainable development and
on considerations regarding privatization of services in protected marine coastal areas.
Participants agreed that tourism development in coastal areas does not inevitably imply real
estate growth. Integrated policies should be structured so as to promote strategies for
rural development that combine agriculture and tourism and encourage the participation of
local communities. Certificates of quality should be established for tourism projects to
indicate their degree of environmental sustainability and their contribution to the economic
(economic development), social (equity) and ecological (environmental sustainability)
conditions of the area in which they are located. Factors linked to the problem of red
tides, proliferation of toxic algae and other phenomena of this kind should be taken into
account.
With respect to the maintenance of biodiversity (as an intrinsic value), participants
examined some environmental interrelationships, including an evaluation of the damage caused
by natural disasters and the El Niño phenomenon. They agreed it should be determined whether
there is in fact a connection between the El Niño phenomenon and global climate change,
since the intensity of meteorological indicators associated with the current manifestation
of El Niño does not necessarily imply a direct relationship between the two phenomena. The
heavy impact of this El Niño occurrence could be due to a combination of factors, such as
desertification, or a lack of contingency and emergency programmes and strategies in the re-
gion to limit the social and environmental effects of natural phenomena. El Niño and other
natural coastal disasters should be factored in among the uncertain variables associated
with management of the coastal and marine environment and the various related economic
activities should therefore incorporate strategies for disaster preparedness and emergency
action. For the full report of the meeting try http://www.eclac.org
THIRD MEETING OF THE OPEN-ENDED AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON BIOSAFETY: The third session of the
Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Biosafety (BSWG-3) met from 13 - 17 October 1997 in
Montreal. Delegates produced a consolidated draft text that will serve as the basis for
negotiations for a biosafety protocol at the next session. Chair Veit Koester (Denmark)
stated that the entire text should be viewed in "mental brackets," explaining that "nothing
is agreed until everything is agreed."
The meeting established two Sub-Working Groups to address the core articles of the protocol.
Delegates also created a contact group on institutional matters and final clauses, and
extended the mandate of the existing contact group on definitions established at BSWG-2 to
address annexes. In Plenary, delegates identified elements to be included in draft articles
on the following outstanding issues: socio-economic considerations; liability and
compensation; illegal traffic; non-discrimination; trade with non-Parties; as well as objec-
tives, general obligations, title and preamble for the protocol.
Delegates decided to carry forward of the structure of work adopted at this meeting to BSWG-
4. In addition to agreeing to hold their next meeting from 8-19 February 1998 in Montreal,
delegates agreed, subject to approval at the fourth meeting of the Conference of Parties
(COP-4) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), that two additional BSWG meetings
be held and an extraordinary meeting of the COP be convened for the adoption of the protocol
in December 1998. Thus, BSWG-3 succeeded in establishing a definitive structure in order to
facilitate the process toward adopting a protocol, provided governments demonstrate both the
necessary political will and intellectual discipline to meet their deadlines.
The full Earth Negotiations Bulletin report of BSWG-3 can be found at
http://www.iisd.ca/linkages. The following is a brief analysis of the meeting:
Introduction: Chair Veit Koester opened the third session of Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group
on Biosafety (BSWG) by outlining the extensive amount of work the group must accomplish if
it is to fulfill its mandate to produce a protocol by the end of 1998. He underscored the
need to prepare draft text in legal terms, signaling that, except on the so-called
"outstanding issues," such as socio-economic considerations and liability and compensation,
the process had moved beyond issue definition and element identification, which
characterized the two previous meetings of the BSWG. Throughout the session, delegates were
reminded that their task was not to negotiate, but to produce a consolidated text upon which
future negotiations would be based. In the course of consolidating the voluminous government
submissions, areas of divergence and convergence among country positions were further
distilled, thereby accentuating some of the major obstacles to negotiating an effective
protocol.
Group Dynamics: One of the obstacles relates to group dynamics and especially the fact that
opinions on biosafety do not necessarily vary along North-South lines. This had an impact
both on the negotiation dynamics within the two Sub-Working Groups as well as within
regional groups.
The two Sub-Working Groups presented a study in contrasts, as one group established a
drafting group composed of regional representatives, while the other withstood pressure to
follow suit, instead maintaining full and open representation throughout its working ses-
sions. Some participants privately noted that SWG-1's drafting group floundered in
procedural issues and, perhaps more importantly, unnecessarily alienated some delegations by
deciding to deny speaking rights. However, some participants felt the regional repre-
sentation process itself should not be faulted, only its implementation, since such a
system, in theory, provided a voice for their concerns at the drafting table. Although SWG-2
enjoyed acclaim for its "workman-like" progress on text consolidation, one delegate ex-
pressed frustration over not being able to make further progress in a smaller drafting
group. Others maintained that comparison of the two groups was unrealistic, given the
contentiousness of Advance Informed Agreement (AIA) provisions addressed by SWG-1, and the
availability of working text provided by the Chair for SWG-2 issues. In any event, it is
crucial that SWG-1 develop an effective modus operandi, especially since, as many believe,
the issues under its care will ultimately make or break the protocol.
Others postulated that SWG-1's difficulties may have stemmed more from splits in regional
groups than procedural flaws. The split within the G-77/China, and particularly the Latin
American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC), witnessed at previous meetings of the BSWG was
paralleled only by divisions within the Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG), and
particularly JUSSCANNZ (Japan, US, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Norway and New Zealand),
at this meeting. The latter group's overt resistance to regional representation was not
simply of matter of principle or procedure; it reflected substantive and substantial
differences within the group. Such differences led one observer to quip that the number of
positions in the group is roughly equal to the number of its members.
From Consolidation to Negotiation: A second obstacle that emerged at this session was the
transition from consolidation to negotiation. If BSWG-2 provided a platform for governments
to present their respective positions, BSWG-3 offered an opportunity to consolidate them,
thereby allowing for a better identification of areas of divergence and convergence.
However, the line between consolidation and negotiation was not clearly drawn at this
meeting, a reflection of the fact that the process of identifying and reducing options that
will serve as a basis for negotiation is an intensely political exercise.
Several participants observed that the work of this meeting only required governments to
ensure that their preferred options remained fully represented in the draft text and that
the difficult negotiations had yet to be embraced. Nevertheless, some participants took full
advantage of the opportunity to safeguard their positions by bracketing seemingly minute
nuances in every arena, effectively increasing rather than consolidating the draft options
in some cases. It was acknowledged that the hesitation of some nations, in particular those
with nascent biotechnology industries, to embrace definite positions is a reflection of the
cutting-edge nature of the issue-area itself: some countries are cautious about committing
to international rules which may preclude future possibilities.
Although Chair Koester admonished participants to restrain themselves from further
embellishments on the agreed text, delegates continued to seek assurances until the closing
minutes of BSWG-3 that their preferred options were indeed available. While flexibility
within the negotiation process is essential to ensure that a biosafety protocol is adopted
and ratified by as many Parties as possible, continued expansion of the options in the draft
text will certainly hamper BSWG's ability to negotiate a protocol by the end of 1998.
Obstacles to an Effective Protocol: While many delegates are optimistic about the prospect
for completing a biosafety protocol on schedule, many reserve judgment as to whether it will
be an effective protocol. Such concerns can be evidenced from repeated calls for reassurance
that the outstanding issues on which no substantive draft text has been prepared will
receive equal treatment before completion of the protocol. It is feared that the protocol's
effectiveness will be hampered if future negotiations do not provide the opportunity for a
full airing of the issues.
One industry representative maintained that the "excessive expectations" of some G-77
countries reflects a failure to conduct a sound cost-benefit analysis of biotechnology.
Developing country demands for provisions regarding socio-economic considerations and
liability and compensation are tantamount to applying a disproportionately high entry fee to
biotechnology. Such concerns were expressed by several developed countries, particularly
about the prospect that the protocol would serve as a new pretext for protectionist
measures.
In a statement to Plenary, the representative of the EU framed the challenge to BSWG as it
enters the next phase of its work: the advantages of joining the protocol must outweigh the
disadvantages. The development of a biosafety protocol represents a critical attempt to
operationalize one of the key and most contentious elements of the Convention on Biological
Diversity. Whether the biosafety protocol follows in the steps of the 1987 Montreal Protocol
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, by becoming more important than its parent
convention, remains to be seen. However, unless some of the obstacles currently facing the
negotiations are overcome, the successful completion of the biosafety protocol will be of
greater concern than its potential fame.
COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE: The Fourth Extraordinary Session
of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA-Ex4) was held at FAO
Headquarters in Rome from 1-5 December 1997. During the weeklong meeting, delegates
continued negotiations on the revision of the International Undertaking (IU) on Plant
Genetic Resources in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity. The work was
divided between an ad hoc working group and an ad hoc contact group. The Working Group
addressed the revision and consolidation of IU text on: objectives; relationship of the IU
with other international agreements; conservation, exploration, collection,
characterization, evaluation and documentation of plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture (PGRFA); sustainable use of PGRFA; the Global Plan of Action; global information
systems on PGRFA; international cooperation; the international network of PGRFA; and
Farmers' Rights. The Working Group was able to produce consolidated text on all of these
issues, moving negotiations on the IU beyond discussion of the controversial agenda items on
Farmers' Rights and scope and access. Concurrently, the Contact Group continued discussions
on issues related to access and benefit sharing. Unlike previous sessions, which were, for
all intents and purposes, exploratory exercises, many delegates left this meeting with a
clearer vision of the revised IU, particularly on access.
The full Earth Negotiations Bulletin report of CGRFA-Ex4 can be found at
http://www.iisd.ca/biodiv.html.
The following is a brief analysis of the meeting:
While CGRFA-7 marked the beginning of negotiations to revise the International Undertaking
on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in harmony with the Convention on
Biological Diversity, the majority of delegates characterized this session as the start of
serious, substantive negotiations that moved beyond political posturing. Unlike previous
sessions, which for all intents and purposes were exploratory exercises, some delegates left
this meeting with a clearer vision, particularly on access. One observer noted that the IU
process is beginning to mature and "bear fruit." The issues on which difficulties are likely
to arise have crystallized, providing a gauge for the outcome of future negotiations. While
the most significant progress was achieved on the consolidation of text for less con-
troversial articles, the provisions that had been the subject of the two working groups at
CGRFA-7 remain the most controversial: scope, access and Farmers' Rights. The difficult
issue of financial arrangements has still not been discussed due to lack of time, but will
need to be tackled soon.
The difficulties encountered by the negotiators are all too familiar and can be likened to
those encountered in other efforts to codify non-legally binding texts in international
legal instruments. The negotiations on an International Legally Binding Instrument for the
Application of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals
and Pesticides in International Trade, which were last held at the FAO a little more than a
month ago, ran into the same obstacles and, in both cases, one is left to wonder whether the
negotiators are keen to achieve a new regime or if they are satisfied with the status quo.
In the CGRFA, however, the mood is slowly shifting and delegates appear to be more willing
to tackle real questions with real solutions in a more honest and open way.
The Contact Group on access issues, assisted by a strong Chair, helped unlock the debate on
access and an apparent breakthrough has resulted. A multilateral system to facilitate access
to PGRFA through a list of major crops yet to be determined is taking shape. On a smaller
scale, the first exchange of views on benefit sharing was revealing and showed good will
from all participants to continue to clarify this sensitive issue. The Contact Group
acknowledged the complexity associated with tackling the private/public sector interface and
balancing IPR interests with a multilateral system. Furthermore, the introduction of the
concept of an International Fund to facilitate benefit sharing marked a willingness to
consider innovative approaches.
Some delegations appear to be willing to compromise and this was exemplified in the course
of the debate on Farmers' Rights when a number of members of the European region appeared to
support strong language from the African region. Consensus of this issue, however, is still
far from being achieved. One of the main remaining problems is that some of the regional
group positions remain quite polarized. The commitments on the part of the negotiating
Parties have remained limited and, after agreement is reached on the less controversial
issues (such as the ones that were negotiated by the Working Group before it took on the
issue of Farmers' Rights), more flexibility will be required if agreement is to be reached.
Ironically, all the IU negotiations so far have been on the consolidation of negotiating
text and the Chairs are in the position of asking delegates to accept bracketed text,
knowing full well that in a few months they will ask them to remove the brackets. Many other
negotiations that have taken place in the wake of the UN Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED) have taken a more direct approach, negotiating directly from texts
submitted by the respective Chairs or Secretariats, based on submissions from countries and
regional groups. The approach taken by CGRFA differs since the various regional groups
submitted parallel and concurrent versions of the texts that they would like to see
discussed. While this approach has the merit of ensuring that all points of view are taken
into account on most of the issues, it has also added considerably to the length of the
negotiation process. This, however, may well be a necessary step in light of the fact that
the process is already constrained by its aims to adapt a pre-existing text.
The negotiations are also complicated by uncertainty as to the relationship between the new
IU and the CBD. The CBD, like other treaties dealing with natural resource management
issues, is partly self-implementing and partly a framework convention. It can thus be the
subject of protocols and other implementing agreements, and the new IU will need to fit
within the evolution of this important international legal instrument.
The negotiation tactics appear to have evolved since the last session, and this is in part
attributable to the new strategy adopted by the Secretariat. The delegates had expressed
some skepticism about the lack of progress achieved when the two working groups had tackled
some of the most difficult issues (scope and access on the one hand and Farmers' Rights on
the other) at CGRFA-7. In this session, to the contrary, the Working Group was devoted to
the less controversial issues, resulting in visible progress. It was significant, however,
that representatives of the African region intervened to add Farmers' Rights to the agenda
of the Working Group. This intervention embodied the urgency attached to this issue. While
the progress achieved on the topic was limited, the shift in the schedule indicated the
realization by some of the dangers of postponing the more controversial issues. The
Secretariat and the Chairs of the two groups showed great flexibility with the agenda,
although some delegations opposed it, and it marked an interesting compromise between the
need to achieve significant progress on some points and the need to address the more burning
issues. The African countries may have felt that some of the delegations dragging their feet
in the Contact Group were content not to address Farmers' Rights. If the same approach is
taken at the next round of negotiations, regional groups should ensure before the agenda is
adopted that specific time limits will be assigned to each issue, to ensure that all the
issues of interest are discussed.
A final element that may have influenced the level of progress achieved was the concurrent
holding of the third Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change
in Kyoto. By the admission of some of the delegates, it was clear that some of most senior
diplomats who normally deal with plant genetic resources issues were in Kyoto and not
available able to assist in the process.
It remains unclear whether the IU negotiations will be concluded as scheduled by the end of
1998. At this point, two more negotiating sessions are planned for next year, and the
delegates are required to finish their work by May 1999. In the closing Plenary the Chairs,
the Secretariat, and a number of delegates reiterated their commitment to the process, which
bodes well for the final outcome.
WORKSHOP ON TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: The Workshop on Traditional
Knowledge and Biological Diversity convened in Madrid, Spain, from 24-28 November 1997.
Approximately 330 individuals representing 62 governments and 148 indigenous and local
community groups and NGOs attended the Workshop. Participants first met in a Committee of
the Whole to consider a background document on traditional knowledge and biodiversity
prepared by the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Two Working
Groups then produced reports that provide advice to the Convention's Conference of the
Parties on the possibility of developing a workplan on Article 8(j) of the Convention and
examine the need to establish an open-ended intersessional working group or a subsidiary
body to address the role of traditional knowledge.
The Workshop produced a report to advise the Conference of Parties on how it might proceed
to further the implementation of Article 8(j). The report, however, consisted of a long and
often contradictory list of non-negotiated options and proposals that reflected considerable
differences among participants on the specific scope, nature and objectives of the Workshop,
and highlighted the striking contrast between indigenous and governmental perspectives on
the nature of traditional knowledge and biodiversity. On the other hand, the Workshop
provided a unique opportunity for indigenous peoples and governments to engage in a dialogue
on equal terms and under relatively open and flexible circumstances, and laid the groundwork
for meaningful dialogue and future collaboration between Parties and indigenous and local
communities.
The full Earth Negotiations Bulletin report of the meeting is available at
http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/linkages/biodiv.html. The following is a brief analysis of the
meeting:
At first glance, the outcome of this unconventional process appears to be a smorgasbord of
ideas and proposals without much consistency and with questionable utility in advising the
COP. While the outcome reflected considerable differences among participants on the specific
scope, nature and objectives of the Workshop, such divergence could have been expected, as
this was the first opportunity under the CBD for governments and indigenous and local commu-
nities to voice their positions on relatively equal terms. For those hoping for a concrete,
clear and negotiated outcome, the Workshop may have seemed a waste of precious time, but to
others it involved not only a learning experience for all groups, but was also unprecedented
in its flexibility. Whether the Workshop represented a lost opportunity or a significant
first step forward remains to be seen as delegates return home and begin their preparations
for COP-4, where they will consider this and other tough political decisions on a wide range
of issues.
Many observers considered the Workshop to be a notable precedent within the CBD process
regarding the participation of indigenous and local communities. Not only were many of these
groups coming together for the first time to discuss biodiversity issues, but they
participated on an equal footing with governments, unlike in the more formalized and
restrictive formats of the COP and SBSTTA where government discussion dominates and
participation of observers is limited. Of particular note was the nomination of indigenous
representatives as Working Group Chairs and their participation in Bureau discussions. One
indigenous delegate noted a sense of empowerment regarding the level to which indigenous
groups had become a recognized part of the process. While deliberating on the success of the
Workshop and the tasks ahead, many indigenous peoples remarked positively on the Workshop as
an opportunity to network, strengthen ties between organizations and explore wider
indigenous viewpoints. Similarly, the Workshop provided them with an opportunity to become
more familiar and comfortable with the UN style of negotiation and to test the waters in
identifying the political, institutional and logistical obstacles in their path. On the
other hand, governments gained a better appreciation for the problems and priorities of
indigenous peoples and local communities.
The discussions throughout the week, however, brought into focus the striking contrast
between indigenous peoples' and governments' perspectives on the nature of traditional
knowledge and the use of biodiversity. Statements by indigenous peoples reflected strong
convictions regarding deep historical, cultural and spiritual connections to nature, a
holistic worldview, and the interlinkages between traditional knowledge, human rights and
rights to resources, land and intellectual property. This approach stood in marked contrast
to the considerations of many Northern governments regarding sober political realities and
the tendency to compartmentalize topics into specific issue areas to be addressed separately
and within the appropriate international fora. This revealed to many participants a
fundamental difference in approaches to biodiversity and future progress on the issues, one
addressing holistically the spiritual, cultural and moral imperative of relating
biodiversity and rights, and another focusing separately on the distinct individual legal
and topical issues.
Many governments expressed disappointment with the political nature of the dialogue and the
lack of substantive exchange on key issue areas and experiences, such as linkages to other
relevant institutions (e.g., UNCHR, WTO, WIPO), identification of gaps, and consideration of
access and property rights regimes. In contrast, some indigenous representatives stressed
that a guarantee for a body with a strong mandate is a necessary precondition for deeper
discussion on specific issues. It was felt that dissecting and debating issues at this forum
would have diluted their unified position for a strong process, thereby amounting to another
intergovernmental talkshop with little means to ensure concrete action.
These differences came into focus not only in the general tone and content of interventions,
but also in the Workshop's output and the process by which it was achieved. A number of
governments repeatedly noted that the Workshop was not an established body with rules of
procedure or a mandate to negotiate a consensus, but an open forum for dialogue and exchange
of views that could provide advice to the COP. Some participants thought that pasting
together each and every proposal and affixing a chapeau stipulating a non-consensus document
revealed a failure to even attempt to work together to bridge differences and reach common
ground. The "wish list," as some participants referred to the final outcome, contains
options stemming from such divergent viewpoints that it may preclude broad political
acceptance by the COP, and fails to lay out any clear path forward. Proposals ranging from
case studies on determining species utilization (e.g., the best grasses for basket-making)
to calls for a moratorium on access to genetic resources reveal the considerable political
divides to be overcome.
The long list of unprioritized options headed to COP-4 for consideration and the absence of
more than 100 Parties from the Workshop (including many with large numbers of indigenous and
local communities) suggests that the most difficult political struggles lie ahead. Many
observers expressed concern that an extended list of options presents numerous difficulties,
as governments may select the self-same proposals they introduced, or, worse yet, view the
options as so politically intractable that they might dismiss the Report outright.
Furthermore, negotiations at COP-4 will revert back to negotiations between States Parties
with little expectation for comparable levels of input and influence that indigenous and
local community groups enjoyed in Madrid.
Yet many delegates did see the Workshop Report as containing a rich array of ideas and
options for consideration. It was noted positively that the Report contained many highly
contentious issues that otherwise would never have found their way into an official UN doc-
ument headed for a COP. One government delegation noted that the text does in fact contain a
number of options on which a middle ground could foreseeably be reached. With time and
further debate, workable options could emerge, the wish list could narrow and become more
manageable, and Parties could be better equipped to proceed with the implementation of 8(j).
While the Workshop clarified the uphill battle that lies ahead on the road to Bratislava, it
also laid the groundwork for meaningful dialogue and future progress. Governments and
indigenous peoples engaged in a constructive exercise and took the first steps toward
finding a common ground on which to better integrate traditional knowledge and the concerns
of indigenous and local communities into the implementation of the CBD.
FORESTS
XI WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS: The XI World Forestry Congress took place from 13-22 October
1997 in Antalya, Turkey. The general theme of the Congress was "Forestry for Sustainable
Development: Towards the 21st Century." More than 4,400 participants from 145 countries
attended the Congress, representing the scientific community, governments, international
organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector. During the
nine-day conference delegates attended eight Plenary sessions and 43 technical sessions.
The technical sessions were organized around eight main programme areas: Forest and Tree
Resources; Forests, Biological Diversity and Maintenance of Natural Heritage; Protective and
Environmental Functions of Forests; Productive Functions of Forests; Economic Contribution
of Forestry to Sustainable Development; Social Dimensions of Forestry's Contribution to
Sustainable Development; Policies, Institutions and Means for Sustainable Forestry
Development; and Eco-regional Review.
In addition to these sessions, three pre-Congress satellite meetings, an informal
ministerial meeting and approximately 30 side meetings and other special events took place
in connection with the XI World Forestry Congress (XI WFC). The Congress produced
recommendations and conclusions from each technical session and programme area and the
Antalya Declaration of the XI World Forestry Congress.
The general theme of the XI WFC, "Forestry for Sustainable Development: Towards the 21st
Century" was established in view of the opportunity to undertake initiatives in the follow-
up to discussions of global forest issues at the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests and the
nineteenth Special Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGASS). The Congress aimed to
provide a forum for the forestry sector to discuss technical responses, to identify actions
to be taken and to take stock of the state of forestry at inter- regional, regional and
national levels, to respond to challenges and to consider new directions in orienting
forestry towards sustainable development in the 21st century.
The Antalya Declaration contains seven preambular paragraphs and seventeen recommendations.
In the preamble, XI WFC participants: underscore that all types of forests provide crucial
social, economic and environmental goods and services and that their sustainable management
is essential for sustainable development; recall the Forest Principles and forest-related
chapters of Agenda 21 adopted at UNCED; recognize the progress made since UNCED to assess
the state of the world's forests and to better understand and advance SFM, but also
recognize the need for further action within and outside the forest sector; emphasize that
reversing the rapid rate of forest loss and degradation in many regions and achieving SFM
depends on increased political will by all countries; note the IPF's proposals for action;
welcome the decision by UNGASS to establish the IFF to promote implementation of the IPF's
action proposals and continue the international dialogue; and acknowledge the informal
meeting of forestry ministers on 13 October.
The Declaration calls on:
• countries to demonstrate increased political will to overcome obstacles to sustainable
forest management (SFM);
• forestry professionals to take the lead in adjusting education curricula, promoting
participatory forest planning and decision-making processes, and enhancing training of
forestry professionals, with particular attention to the role of women and youth;
• countries, international organizations and major groups to cooperate to implement the
IPF's action proposals and ensure that further international forest policy dialogue is open
and transparent;
• countries and the international donor community to more effectively contribute to and
enhance the mobilization of domestic and international financial resources and
environmentally sound and appropriate technology transfer, on preferential terms as mutually
agreed, to build capacity in developing countries and economies in transition to better
inventory, assess, monitor and manage forests for multiple benefits, including through the
use of joint implementation programmes;
• countries and international organizations to adopt a cross-sectoral approach to national
policies;
• countries, international organizations and forestry professionals to work in open and
participatory partnership with all interested parties;
• countries and international organizations to further develop methodologies and mechanisms
for valuation of forest goods and services and for facilitating the integration of non-
traded forest benefits into markets and public decision-making processes;
• countries and research organizations to identify and undertake priority research
activities in response to society's needs and to widely disseminate the results;
• countries to develop and apply national-level criteria and indicators (C&I) for SFM;
• countries, international organizations, major groups, the private sector and other
interested parties to promote greater public awareness of the roles and problems of forests
and the work needed to improve their management;
• countries, international organizations and NGOs to foster community forestry and
agroforestry programmes and enhance extension services to forest owners and users;
• countries and international organizations to recognize that, in many regions of the world,
fast-growing tree plantations can contribute to SFM by meeting subsistence needs and can
complement, and/or reduce pressure on, natural forests through increased supply of forest
goods and services;
• countries to develop, implement and review policies, plans and management practices aimed
at minimizing the destructive nature and extent of major wildfires on forest lands;
• countries to prepare and implement national forest programmes;
• countries and the international donor community to give increased attention to the
rehabilitation of degraded forest land through elaboration and implementation of national
plans for combating desertification;
• international organizations, academic institutions and forestry professionals to raise
awareness of the importance of biodiversity, including conserving, enhancing and sustainably
utilizing forest-related genetic resources; and
• forest industries to adopt and implement voluntary codes of conduct to contribute to SFM.
The full Sustainable Developments report on the World Forestry Congress can be found at
http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/linkages/sd/sd_antalya.html.
DESERTIFICATION
FIRST CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION: The First Con-
ference of the Parties (COP-1) to the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) met in
Rome, Italy, from 29 September to 10 October 1997. Monday, 29 September, was used for
regional consultations, so the COP opened officially on 30 September. The Committee on
Science and Technology (CST) held its first session simultaneously on 2 - 3 October.
Additional parallel events included an NGO Forum, an international forum for mayors, a
seminar for the media and an exhibit of comic strips. One hundred and two States submitted
their instruments of ratification by the requisite date and participated as Parties to the
Convention. As of 30 September 1997, 113 countries had submitted instruments of
ratification.
The COP-1 and CST-1 agendas contained primarily organizational matters. Delegates selected
Bonn, Germany, as the location for the Permanent Secretariat and the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD) as the organization to administer the Global Mechanism. At
the CST's recommendation, the COP established an ad hoc panel to oversee the continuation of
the process of surveying benchmarks and indicators, and decided that CST-2 would consider
linkages between traditional knowledge and modern technology. Five Plenary meetings were
devoted to a High-Level Segment and one to a dialogue between non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) and delegates on building partnerships for the CCD. Argentina's proposal that Plenary
meetings at future COPs be devoted to similar NGO dialogues was also adopted. While most
delegates were pleased with the two-week session, they looked forward to COP-2, which will
take place in Dakar, Senegal, to delve into more substantive issues related to combatting
desertification.
The full Earth Negotiations Bulletin summary of CCD COP-1 can be found at
http://www.iisd.ca/
The following is a brief analysis of the meeting:
Introduction: Participants arrived at COP-1 with fairly realistic expectations and, despite
evident, recurring tensions between the regions, were generally pleased with its results.
Since the agenda focused on the organizational aspects of the Convention, the substance will
only catch up with the rhetoric at COP-2. Nevertheless, some key discussions and decisions,
including the Bureau election, the meeting of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST)
and the Global Mechanism debate highlighted key expectations of delegates and will serve as
the framework for matters to be considered at future COPs.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
From Politics to Practice: Many participants described the First Conference of the Parties
to the Convention to Combat Desertification (COP-1) as a milestone. Finally, some delegates
sighed, the process of combatting desertification has reached its most important phase:
implementation. Despite useful interim activities such as the urgent action for Africa,
governments have focused on the negotiations and their national ratification processes. Now
that the CCD has entered into force and an "infrastructure" for the implementation phase has
been established at COP-1, no obstacles remain to prevent countries from carrying out real
action in the field.
CST off to a good start: Delegates to the CST were frustrated by the postponement of their
meeting for two days due to the problems with the election of the Bureau and the manner in
which the CST Chair was chosen. Some said the election process for the CST Chair was
anything but transparent. For instance, delegates were not provided with the candidate's CV
when requested. Some also hinted that there was not adequate consultation with other
regional groups on the decision. Tension eased when the first two-day meeting of the CST
finally started. Delegates were, in fact, pleasantly surprised by the outcome and were
content with how speedily the CST had been guided through its agenda.
Despite this generally positive impression, some felt that the Committee had failed to make
itself a unique institution and to determine the kind of work it should carry out based on
that uniqueness. They expressed a fear that the CST may in the future be dominated by
politically oriented members and never get down to "scientific business," as has been the
case with the Convention on Biological Diversity's Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical
and Technological Advice, whose meetings initially turned into mini-COPs where political
considerations were prioritized over substantive scientific issues. Some questioned the
wisdom of running the CST and COP meetings concurrently and the approach to government-
endorsed nomination of experts. Since CST meetings will only take place once a year, it
could take several years before the real impacts of these INCD provisions are determined.
NGO participation: Delegates and NGOs alike hailed the COP-1 breakthrough that found, for
the first time ever, a Plenary meeting dedicated to NGO dialogue. The afternoon Plenary of
Thursday, 9 October, was organized by the NGO community and was co-chaired by COW Chair
Mahmoud Ould El-Ghaouth (Mauritania) and NGO Edit Tuboly (Netherlands) of BothEnds.
Many of the delegates and observers who participated said it was a useful forum and that it
sets a precedent for incorporating practitioners into intergovernmental processes. It
enabled governments and NGOs to define concepts such as partnerships and to jointly define
what they would like to achieve. This forum could mark the beginning of a process that
actively embraces the ideas of other interest groups as an integral part of
intergovernmental negotiations. While COP-1 decided that the arrangement should continue in
the future, some noted the need for caution as the precedent whereby government initiatives
to realize justice on behalf of the international community could be undermined by interest
and lobby groups with conflicting goals.
PROCEDURAL ASPECTS
"Bonn! C'est bon!" delegates exclaimed as the result of the vote on the location of the
Permanent Secretariat was announced on Friday, 3 October. Reasons for Bonn's victory were
believed to be its financially generous offer, long-standing cooperation between Germany and
some African countries, and proximity to the Climate Change Convention Secretariat.
The election of Bonn demonstrated broad support for the German city and many delegates
complemented those responsible for the smooth selection process. Participants also believed
that the negotiation process on other difficult issues, such as the informal consultations
on the programme and budget and some aspects of the Global Mechanism, enabled tough issues
to be dealt with in a manner that did not dampen the Spirit of Rio.
By contrast, the selection process for the host of the Global Mechanism frustrated and even
infuriated delegates. There was no clear consensus within or between regional groups. A
minority thought this impasse should be resolved through a vote, but this was ruled out
because the Global Mechanism is linked to the financial rules, for which the decision-making
process is still not agreed and, by default, must be made through consensus. Some thought
the decision of the African Group should guide the selection, but that Group also did not
agree on one institution, despite having voted by secret ballot. Ironically, delegates had
labored to develop criteria for selecting the institution, but in the end these were
completely disregarded. Although some delegates suggested that UNDP met the criteria, there
seemed to be no consensus in any of the regional groups.
Furthermore, some delegates were upset by the lobbying of the bidding institutions, which
have been established to service the governments. In the face of no consensus after drawn
out regional consultations that had caused the suspension of several formal sessions of the
COW, during the final Plenary COW Chair El-Ghaouth proposed that he indicate one
institution, and if 53 States Parties spoke against it, the proposal would not stand. This
suggestion amounted to voting by another name. The Chair's proposal of IFAD to host the
Mechanism and UNDP to select the Mechanism's head came as a surprise to the majority in the
closing Plenary, including the institutions themselves.
While some delegates seemed content with IFAD as the host, others noted that, although the
negotiated criteria to determine the host institution were thorough, the blatant disregard
for these criteria does not augur well for the host institution, in particular its ability
to garner the support needed to enable it to become the lead Mechanism to mobilize resources
for the Convention. At the end of COP-1, two delegates tellingly commented: "what goes
around, comes around" and "it is not over yet!"
TENSIONS AND CHALLENGES
Particularity versus Universality: The tensions that kept surfacing at critical stages of
the INCD negotiations between and within regional groups, continued to appear at COP-1. At
issue is the CCD's emphasis of the particularity of Africa, which the region has used to get
exceptional treatment. The crises in selecting the Bureau and representatives to the ad hoc
panel of the CST, determining the number of presentations at the COP-2 CST meetings, and
electing the organization to host the Global Mechanism all manifested this tension. Africa
wanted three seats on the Bureau and the ad hoc panel to the other region's two seats and
two presentations at the CST-2's consideration of traditional knowledge to the other
region's one presentation. The other regions chose to go by the G-77 and China's preference
for the Global Mechanism host, which they expected would be determined by Africa's choice.
Each of these debates created crises that manifested this tension. These difficulties were
foreseen by INCD Chair Bo Kjellén, who repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, pushed for the
selection of the Bureau members at the resumed session of INCD-10.
Solutions were found at COP-1 regarding the Bureau and composition of the ad hoc panels
thanks to the fact that only one Eastern European State had ratified the CCD and no names
from the region had been submitted to the roster of experts. This resulted in a "vacant"
Eastern European seat, which many regional groups were eager to fill. However, the matter
promises to recur at COP-2 and possibly assume greater proportions if a second ratification
is forthcoming from Eastern Europe. While certain delegates stated that the composition did
not establish a precedent for the future, they went on to announce that the number of seats
they had obtained should be the same next year. Some even began jockeying for the position
of CST-2 Chair. Before a solution was found at COP-1, some delegates had suggested creating
an ex officio position of the COW Chair on the Bureau to provide Africa with the third seat.
However, this option was ruled out for COP-2 because it is against standard procedures for a
region to hold both the Presidency and COW Chair. Some delegates warned that providing
exceptions creates precedents for others to argue for exceptional status on other issues.
Equality Between the Sister Conventions: Since the CCD negotiations began, developing
countries have stressed that the Convention must be equal to its sister conventions on
climate change (FCCC) and biological diversity (CBD). At every obstacle, precedents from
FCCC negotiations, in particular, have been invoked. Despite these professions of equality,
divergent views were expressed about the relationship between the three Conventions.
Some considered the CCD the superior of the three. The CCD is very innovative, more
participatory and deals with the two fundamental concerns of humankind: survival and
freedom. It is a grassroots Convention. Implemented as negotiated, it can amass great
political momentum to address the long-standing problem of land that pervades every form of
human conflict. Its importance is manifested in the number of ratifications by COP-1, twice
as many as the other two conventions. The Convention is as much about democratization and
good governance as it is about development and combatting poverty.
Other delegates, however, commented that although the Convention is headed in the right
direction, it is not yet on par with the FCCC, with which it now has similar institutional
arrangements. First, the Global Mechanism must have moral and financial authority to
mobilize the required resources to implement the CCD. Second, Africa must relinquish the
desire to have a global yet African Convention. Pressing for particularity undermines the
CCD's ability to enjoy the same status as the FCCC and CBD. But here again, the FCCC is
invoked: pressing for particularity is no different from the exceptional status enjoyed by
the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) within the FCCC. Still, the biggest concern is
that three important powers, Japan, Russia and the United States, have yet to ratify the
Convention, thus making it truly global.
Women and Desertification: The role of women in preventing dryland degradation has been
stressed over and over again by ministers and delegates during the negotiation process. That
the women farmers should be the greatest beneficiaries of the CCD has been stressed at
countless workshops, throughout the INCD process and even at COP-1. However, the fact that
only two women were selected to serve in official capacities, as Vice President in the
Bureau and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Science and Technology, and only two of the 10
members of the CST ad hoc panel on indicators are women, suggests that it is only
politically correct rhetoric. In fact, during the negotiations on the establishment of the
roster of experts, two delegates implied that if more women were to be included in order to
observe the recommended gender balance, the quality of expertise in the roster would
decline. To translate the intentions into action, regional and women's groups, in particular
from developing countries, must take deliberate steps to identify and include qualified
women, especially in the work of the CST.
Coordination and Cooperation: Participation and coordination are the two issues most cited
by field practitioners and Convention negotiators as critical elements to effect change on
the ground. But several delegates began expressing apprehension that the problem of
coordination is far from resolved. The Secretariat's proposed budget perplexed many. Some
felt the proposed sum for implementation would make the Secretariat yet another implementing
agency, amidst the myriad of specialized intergovernmental agencies already involved in
dryland issues, and result in the inefficient use of resources. Unlike the FCCC and CBD, the
Secretariat will be involved in some field implementation. The decision that specified the
amount of funds that the Secretariat would allocate to the Mechanism was a relief as a lack
of specification was considered to be a potential area of conflict between the two
institutions. The host institution would have had to negotiate with the Secretariat the
contribution it would receive from the programme budget. The Secretariat had proposed close
to US$500,000 but the Plenary increased the amount to US$1 million. Many delegates stressed
the need to discuss the types of activities the Secretariat should undertake and not leave
the Secretariat to negotiate with other intergovernmental agencies also working on dryland
issues.
Conclusion: There was broad agreement by those at COP-1 that although process issues are
crucial, the shelf life of the Convention is of greater importance. The credibility of the
Convention hinges on the process used to develop the national action programmes. The ability
to develop credible national action programmes and mobilize resources in both developed and
developing countries depends on the political will and support accorded the national action
programme process and desertification as an issue. These are policy issues that must be
addressed at the country level, and for which affected developing countries, in particular
those in Africa, must lead the way.
Considering the skepticism expressed in Rio at the idea of a global desertification
convention, the progress made thus far bodes well for the future. One hundred thirteen
countries have ratified the Convention and more are expected. A large number of developing
countries participated in the INCD process. New ground has been broken in NGO participation
in intergovernmental negotiations. All of these achievements demonstrate a political will
that was lacking two decades ago following the adoption of the 1977 Plan of Action to Combat
Desertification. The CCD is a major accomplishment for Africa and for the world, but the
real success will be determined by whether it changes the lives of those living in the
drylands.
CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT
FOURTH SESSION OF THE INC FOR AN INTERNATIONAL LEGALLY BINDING INSTRUMENT FOR THE
APPLICATION OF THE PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT PROCEDURE FOR CERTAIN HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND
PESTICIDES IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE: The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating
Committee (INC-4) for an International Legally Binding Instrument for the Application of the
Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in
International Trade was held from 20-24 October 1997 in Rome. Delegates considered the
revised text of draft articles for the instrument, as well as proposals by the US and the
European Community, in Plenary, a Technical Working Group and a Legal Drafting Group.
Additional negotiating sessions every evening and a number of contact groups were also
convened.
Delegates at INC-4 encountered problems similar to those of previous negotiating sessions.
Despite some useful contact during the intersessional period, there had not been much change
in the positions of the main protagonists since the last meeting. This means that the
mandate of the UNEP Governing Council to conclude negotiations by the end of 1997 cannot be
fulfilled. An additional negotiating session will be held in early 1998 and the diplomatic
conference to adopt the instrument is now scheduled for March or April 1998. The progress on
some "secondary" issues in Rome means that the smaller number of difficult issues still to
be resolved present a significant, but not insurmountable, challenge.
The full Earth Negotiations Bulletin summary of PIC-4, available at
http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/linkages/chemical/pic.html, contains an article-by-article review of
the text currently under negotiation. Also included is the following brief analysis of the
meeting:
Introduction: As was perhaps to be expected, delegates at INC-4 encountered problems similar
to those encountered at previous negotiating sessions. According to at least one
participant, despite useful contact during the intersessional period between some of the
major players, there had not been much change in the positions of the main protagonists
since INC-3 last May. This means that the mandate of the UNEP Governing Council to conclude
negotiations by the end of 1997 will not be met. With the addition of a negotiating session
in early 1998 and the diplomatic conference now scheduled for March or April, negotiators
appear to have adopted a two-track approach: attempting to remove brackets from the least
contentious provisions, while reserving their final positions on the most difficult issues.
The result of this dual approach is that the degree of progress remains unclear. However,
without agreement on fundamental issues, such as the requirements for export notification,
financial resources and mechanisms, and the definition of "acutely hazardous pesticide
formulations," achievement of a balanced, implementable and effective Convention is not yet
assured. As one observer noted, leaving so many substantial issues until the "endgame" runs
the risk that the clock will run out before final agreement is reached.
Round and Round: With time constraints and the slow pace of negotiations looming ever larger
in the efforts to produce a Convention early next year, several disagreements from previous
sessions resurfaced in Rome. Most prominent was the question of the scope of the Convention
and the debate on whether the new PIC procedure should apply only to "acutely" hazardous
chemicals and pesticides. In that regard, the debate appeared at times to pitch the
interests of the developed countries against those of the developing States, more so than in
earlier meetings, thereby running the risk of becoming even more divisive. At least one
delegate suggested that the entire purpose of the negotiations -- to make the notification
and information requirements of the PIC procedure legally binding at the international level
-- was often lost in debates over the concerns of exporting countries to avoid
administrative obligations. The proposed rules of procedure were also problematic as some
States do not want to be bound by an instrument where new chemicals may be added to the PIC
procedure without their consent. This is in part an issue of national sovereignty, which
some countries seem reluctant to relinquish.
Second, the "inexperience effect" also slowed progress once again. In an attempt to overcome
the problem of delegates new to the PIC negotiations, the Secretariat held a briefing
session where they presented a flow-chart outlining all the obligations and procedures of
the proposed Convention. While clearly a helpful exercise, it perhaps could have been
carried out earlier, as some of the delegates were not necessarily well-versed in all the
subtleties of hazardous chemical transport and management and did not always understand all
the technicalities that can constrain otherwise well-intentioned political undertakings.
Third, the question of the relationship between WTO obligations and the Convention became
even more complicated at this session. In addition to Article 19bis, the "GATT- saving
clause," additional references were made to placing similar conditions on imported and
domestically produced chemicals (Article 9(7)) and proposed wording to ensure that the
Convention's provisions are in "accordance with WTO obligations" (Article 4(5)). Many
delegates expressed surprise and concern that the wording could allow international trade
rules to override the provisions of the Convention, while others simply suggested that some
delegations had not been properly briefed on the trade implications of a legally binding PIC
procedure. Either way, and with a certain confusion on the relationship between the proposed
Convention and other international legal obligations, such an important matter deserves
serious consideration during the intersessional period.
New and Additional: In addition to these continuing challenges, several other difficult
issues were prominent at INC-4. For example, some participants appeared less than
sympathetic to those delegations that anticipated difficulties with amending national
legislation to accommodate the requirements of the Convention. Symptomatic of this debate is
the question of confidential business information (CBI). Some delegations argued that, due
to their national laws, they cannot reveal information to importers that would be considered
privileged commercial information. While this may be construed as a valid point, importers
also point out that if some chemicals are classified as hazardous in the country of origin,
it is the exporter's duty to provide the importer with as much information as may be
necessary to avoid health and environmental hazards. Moreover, it was noted that the
meeting's purpose was to achieve an internationally agreed instrument, not one subject to
exemptions by individual countries. A failure in the next, and final, stage of these
negotiations would be a clear indication that despite pressure from consumers, importing
developing countries and growing environmental threats, some delegations might still be
content with practices that ultimately remain within the realm of national sovereignty.
Discussions in Rome were also marked by a clear sense of caution. One delegate noted that
"nobody wants to give away the store." Of course, such caution runs the risk of crashing
headlong into the time constraint of one remaining negotiating session. Often such reticence
is moved forward by the presence of vocal environmental NGOs (ENGOs). However, such presence
is minimal at the PIC negotiations, and, as admitted by one ENGO observer, is actually de-
creasing. In addition, the issue of financial resources and mechanisms, only introduced at
INC-3, was not formally discussed at this meeting. Likewise, a growing number of
representatives have voiced their concerns on the lack of sufficient mechanisms to assist
developing countries in meeting their obligations under the new Convention. These concerns
may not have been adequately addressed and could well resurface shortly. Failure to address
such traditionally contentious topics will undoubtedly place further strain on the already
crowded agenda for INC-5.
To Brussels and Beyond: The present difficulties faced by the negotiators are, of course,
common in international environmental negotiations: Parties may face a common threat, but
concepts of responsibility and equity remain fuzzy. In this case, as in others, the new
obligations imposed on both importers and exporters will represent gains for one set of
Parties at the expense of the other. Therein lies the difficulty of codifying accepted, but
not legally binding, practices. One should not forget, however, that the negotiators are
able to draw from two very solid texts -- the FAO Code of Conduct and the London Guidelines
-- and benefit from the technical expertise of the FAO and UNEP. Such expertise on the part
of the FAO has proved to be invaluable in international fisheries negotiations and may well
be crucial to the successful completion of these negotiations.
Despite remaining problems, delegates at the end of this session could perhaps see the
proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. What is clearer now are the small number of
difficult issues on which a lot of work is still needed. Delegates can return to their
capitals and make a case to their respective governments for flexibility and the need to
give in on some issues in order to gain overall through the adoption of a strong, legally
binding instrument. Such a precedent would bode well for negotiations on other chemical-
related issues, particularly those regarding persistent organic pollutants, which will
likely provoke greater interest on the part of NGOs and governments alike.
OCEANS AND COASTS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION ON OCEANS AND THE LAW OF THE SEA: The Fifty-second Session of
the General Assembly adopted a resolution on oceans and the Law of the Sea (A/52/L.26) on 19
November 1997. In the resolution, the General Assembly, inter alia: recalled its resolution
on the International Year of the Ocean (1998), recalled the establishment of the Interna-
tional Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ("the Tribunal") as a new means for the settlement of
disputes concerning the Convention and the Agreement, and welcomed the establishment of the
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf ("the Commission") during the Sixth
Meeting of the States parties to the Convention.
In the resolution, the General Assembly: called upon all States that have not done so, in
order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention
and the Agreement; called upon States to harmonize their national legislation with the
provisions of the Convention and to withdraw any of their declarations or statements that
are not in conformity; and noted with satisfaction the progress in the work of the
International Seabed Authority, in particular the approval of seven plans of work for ex-
ploration in the Area, and the progress being made by the Legal and Technical Commission
towards the formulation of a draft Mining Code.
The General Assembly also noted: the adoption of the Agreement on the Privileges and
Immunities of the Tribunal; the progress made towards the conclusion of a Headquarters
Agreement between the Tribunal and Germany; the adoption by the Tribunal of the Rules of the
Tribunal; and the resolution on Internal Judicial Practice and the Guidelines for the
Preparation and Presentation of Cases Before the Tribunal. The Assembly also encouraged
States parties to the Convention to consider making a written declaration choosing from the
means set out in Article 287 of the Convention for the settlement of disputes concerning the
interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement.
The General Assembly also: reaffirmed the importance of ensuring the uniform and consistent
application of the Convention and a coordinated approach to its overall implementation;
invited Member States to contribute to the further development of the Hamilton Shirley
Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship Programme on the Law of the Sea; and called upon States to
implement General Assembly resolution 51/189 of 16 December 1996 and to strengthen the
implementation of existing international and regional agreements on marine pollution. For
more information contact the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of
Legal Affairs; e-mail: doalos@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/.
HABITAT AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
WORKSHOP ON URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT: UNEP's Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) and its
Human Health and Well-Being Unit (HH&W- B) held a Regional Workshop on Urban Waste
Management in West Asia in Bahrain from 23 to 27 November 1997. The workshop was attended by
27 experts from 10 West Asian countries. Representatives from UNEP/IETC and UNDP/Habitat,
Dubai, also attended. The workshop was organized to promote integrated, efficient and
environmentally sound waste management in urban areas in the West Asia region; promote
exchange of information between professionals engaged in planning and implementation of
waste management activities; and promoting the introduction of environmentally sound and
appropriate technologies to treat solid and liquid wastes.
Presentations were given in the fields of collection, recycling, composting and various
treatment methodologies including environmentally sound technologies to dispose of urban
waste. The need for sound waste management, including the integrated approach and public
awareness-building were highlighted by facilitators and country experts. For more
information contact the UNEP Regional Office for Africa (ROA), PO Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya,
tel.: +254 (2) 624283/4284; fax: +254 (2) 623928; e-mail: roainfo@unep.org; Internet:
http://www.unep.org/regoffs/roa/home.htm.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
EXPERT WORKSHOP ON WAYS AND MEANS TO ENHANCE SOCIAL PROTECTION AND REDUCE VULNERABILITY: In
preparing for the 36th session of the Commission for Social Development, the UN Secretariat
organized an expert workshop on ways and means to enhance social protection and reduce
vulnerability, held at UN Headquarters from 10 - 14 November 1997. The workshop brought
together experts from all world regions as well as observers from the United Nations system
and from civil society. Participants in the workshop noted that vulnerability can be linked
to specific stages in the life span, involving risks intrinsic to different periods of life.
The concept of risk that is associated with vulnerability implies susceptibility by an
individual to biological, psychological and social factors, and a high probability that
these will cause problems in different life circumstances. This vulnerability, if not
counteracted, could hinder personal development and lead to the creation of disadvantage for
the individual with regard to his or her current environment and future prospects.
Participants discussed causes and consequences, as well as policies and programmes related
to diversity and universality. On strategic principles, participants discussed the human
rights approach and a values framework. They considered principles for community-level
coping strategies, an integrated or comprehensive approach, entrenched vulnerable ethnic
groups, the role of civil society or the "third sector," prevention and promotional
measures, family and community-based approaches; network and referral systems; and in-
tegration and mainstreaming. Members of the expert workshop also provided examples from
their experience of policies or programmes that serve to reduce vulnerability. These
examples were illustrative of the kinds of actions governments may consider and address.
Regarding tools and priorities for follow-up, the experts agreed that development needs to
be pursued by a mix of social, cultural and economic policies. Broad participation by all
the actors in society to formulate and implement these policies is necessary. They also
stated that there is an urgent need for countries to formulate policies and implement
programmes that recognize and redress the existence of vulnerability in different social,
economic and political relationships. This can be done through actions such as: assessing
the nature and extent of vulnerability in each country; ensuring that a primary concern of
legislation, criminal justice systems and social services is to reduce the incidence of
violence against people and groups who are disadvantaged or at risk; creating an environment
in which cooperative and other people's organizations can be created and ensuring the
support system that can strengthen the capacity of such organizations to adopt wider
developmental roles; and promoting the establishment of democratic, transparent and
accountable organizations at community level.
Participants agreed that an enabling environment to reduce vulnerability should recognize
and value spiritual aspects of development. Policies and programmes should not seek to
improve material conditions alone, but should also allow for spiritual development. The
group addressed the adoption a long-term strategic approach, increasing empathy and
mechanisms for partnership. They said the Commission for Social Development should consider
establishing and promoting an international network of organizations, experts and
individuals who participated in different aspects of the process of the World Summit for
Social Development and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action,
in order to provide a permanent, informal mechanism for the exchange of information and
experiences and encouraging involvement in the further implementation of strategic actions
leading up to Copenhagen 95+5. For information contact the Secretariat; UN Plaza, Room DC2-
1370, New York, NY 10017 USA; tel: + 1 (212) 963 6763; fax: + 1 (212) 963 3062; e-mail:
Internet: http://www.un.org/dpcsd/dspd/social.html. Documents for the 36th session can be
found at gopher://gopher.un.org/11/esc/cn5/1997-98.
EXPERT WORKSHOP ON PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE: The Heads of State and Government at
the World Summit for Social Development stated that the goal of integration should be "a
society for all" in which all people have the right and the ability to participate in
decisions affecting their lives. The purpose of this expert workshop, held at Regent's
College, London from 29 September - 3 October 1997, was to review experience in different
areas to determine how participation might be encouraged so that social integration can be
promoted. To date, much has been written and analyzed about participation in development
projects and at the grassroots in communities. There has been little attempt to review how
that experience relates to larger processes of social integration, equality and social
justice. This workshop considered areas in society where participation might be encouraged
and developed, such as legal, political, economic and administrative areas, in addition to
more traditional areas such as provision of social services, development of non-governmental
organizations and access to information.
The workshop's report discusses the importance of participation, and notes, inter alia, that
development requires investment in social capital, enhancing social relationships and
networks, building consensus and generating individual, organizational and institutional
capabilities. Participation has been defined in many different ways, with different
theoretical, methodological and practical implications. What is certain is that
consideration of these differences is crucial in order to clarify the ways different actors
(organizations of civil society, the private sector, governments and international orga-
nizations) understand the concept. As a goal, participation supposes building capacities in
people so that the gains they make are sustained. The goal is for previously marginalized
people to take a more active part in society and to lead more productive and fulfilling
lives. Participation offers a new approach to the governance of societies. The experts
agreed that participation is not simply about access to government, but about people being
an important element in the process of governance.
The experts also discussed national political processes, noting that social integration is
hindered by the weakness and in some cases, breakdown of democratic systems. The experts
also noted that in recent decades, especially during the periods of structural adjustment,
politics as the means by which a society decides what type of development it will have has
been replaced by economics. In many developing countries, the balance of power in
negotiations has shifted from elected authorities to professional and technocrats, especial-
ly the representatives of international financial and business institutions.
The experts agreed that all levels of government have an interest in establishing a
decentralized form of government, and decentralization involves shifts of power from the top
to the bottom of tiers and hierarchies of governance. "The people" should not be made re-
sponsible for making a system of government participatory on their own. The success of
decentralization, where real powers and resources are turned over to the meso and local
levels, depends to a great extent on the consolidation of these new experiences of partic-
ipatory democracy. Crucial to successful decentralization is a clear delineation of the
functions, fiscal domain, other resources and decision making responsibilities of each tier
of government.
Experts also discussed: creating the space for civil society; participation in economic
policy; access to work, means of livelihood; income and social services; information,
education and the media; justice systems; corruption; and international initiatives.
The report includes some suggestions for responding to a number of specific concerns that
are best handled through international cooperation. They note that international travel and
tourism can bring numerous benefits but also can impose readily identifiable human costs,
sex tourism being among the worst examples. Any tax on tourists could only be imposed
multilaterally. An international fund accruing from the imposition of a tax on tourism
could be allocated to destination countries, ideally in proportion to their share of
tourists, or in accordance with some other acceptable formula.
The experts also noted that there are centers of production of small arms in the world that
require ethnic strife to fill their order books. They said it is vital that the world's
supply of small arms of the kind used in insurgency and counter-insurgency operations (which
are quite distinct from conventional military weapons) be scaled down within the framework
of a global treaty.
Regarding corrupt practices that are a concomitant of (legal) international flows of goods
or capital, in the form of kickbacks and commissions on large purchases to influential
decision-makers in the purchasing countries, the problem inherently requires a multilateral
treaty involving all banking centers to be effective. Moves should be made towards a
multilateral banking information treaty.
While it is important to discuss and strengthen mechanisms for enhanced participation at the
national level, it is also imperative to strive to strengthen the international framework in
support of good governance and participation, in part through improving the functioning of
the UN system. It is absolutely appropriate that participatory systems of democracy, which
are deemed essential at the national level, should also exist internationally. The experts
agreed that the international level is key to setting standards, priorities and ways and
means of interaction, which can influence the way nations run their economic and social
policies. All countries and multinational corporations have a responsibility to set
standards of accountability and abide by principles that uphold justice and equality,
thereby contributing to greater participation and improved governance, both nationally and
internationally.
The final paragraph of the report notes that the fundamental concern of social development
must be to empower people to have greater control over decisions affecting their lives. The
goal of social integration, expressed at the Social Summit, is to create a society for all
based on tolerance and respect for diversity. The approach for both is to create inner
capacities and tap innate resources through greater participation and a concern for learning
and growth in all social, economic and political interactions. Models of development based
on privilege and power create societies characterized by vast and undemocratic disparities
that are unsustainable both physically and ethically. The report states that they must
evolve to become more inclusive and cooperative. Political change may occur very rapidly;
economic reform can take effect relatively quickly; but social change is a long-term
process. Yet if the next century is to offer more opportunity to all the people of the world
to live lives of dignity than the current century has delivered, the process must be start-
ed. For information contact the Secretariat; UN Plaza, Room DC2-1370, New York, New York
10017 USA; tel: + 1 (212) 963 6763; fax: + 1 (212) 963 3062; e-mail: Internet:
http://www.un.org/dpcsd/dspd/social.htm. Documents for the session can be found at
gopher://gopher.un.org/11/esc/cn5/1997-98.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY COUNCIL MEETING: The Council of the Global Environment Facility
(GEF) met from 4-6 November 1997 in Washington, DC. Statements were made to the Council by
Calestous Juma, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity, and Michael Zammit
Cutajar, Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Regarding the
second GEF Replenishment Process, the Council approved a number of decisions.
On the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), the Council noted with appreciation
STAP's contributions to the GEF. The Council stated that UNEP, as it proceeds with the
reconstitution of STAP, should follow the guidelines set out in the Terms of Reference for
STAP approved by the GEF Council in October 1995. UNEP should also provide advance
information to the Council on the proposed composition of the "new" STAP before its final
submission at the April Council meeting.
On the Work Program, the Council approved the proposed work program subject to comments made
during the Council meeting. Representatives offered comments noting that: the Council empha-
sized the importance of the principle of incremental costs to the GEF while recognizing the
difficulties that continue to be encountered in its application; the Implementing Agencies
should involve recipient countries in negotiations on the incremental costs of their
proposed GEF projects; and the Secretariat should prepare a policy note on innovative
modalities for GEF financing of projects.
On relations with conventions, the Council welcomed the collaboration between the GEF and
Conventions secretariats, and encouraged the GEF secretariat and Implementing Agencies to
continue their efforts towards active dialogue with the Parties to the Conventions at the
appropriate convention meetings. The Council took note of the initiatives of the Secretariat
and Implementing Agencies to respond to the additional guidance received from the Conference
of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and requested them to continue
their efforts to develop project activities consistent with such guidance. The Council also
took note of the reviews being undertaken by the Conventions of their financial mechanisms,
and invited all GEF Participant states, in their capacity as Parties to the Conventions, to
contribute to the review process.
The Council also reviewed a paper on the issues concerning incremental costs and welcomed
further work on the paper by the Secretariat, in consultation with the Implementing Agencies
and the secretariats of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Conventions, taking into account
Council comments, in order to clarify definitions and to further facilitate application. The
paper should also include operational criteria and paradigm cases for different types of GEF
activities and projects and should be submitted for Council consideration at its meeting in
November 1998. For more information contact the GEF Secretariat; tel: +1-202-473-1128; fax:
+1-202-522-3240; Internet: http://www.worldbank.org/html/gef
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
WORKSHOP ON INDUSTRIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IN AFRICA: The UNEP/UNDP/Government of the
Netherlands Joint Project on environmental law and institutions in Africa convened a
workshop for industrialists from 28 November - 1 December 1997 at Kisumu in Kenya. The
workshop aimed at building partnership with industries and manufacturers on the strategies
for the promotion of compliance with and enforcement of environmental law. Participants
discussed the structure and content of modern environmental law, the economic values that
industry can derive from compliance with environmental law and how they can be partners with
those whose responsibility is the enforcement of environmental law.
Among the themes covered were: the impact of industries on the environment; environmental
law and sustainable industrial development; promoting business responsibility for
environmental management in developing countries: what role for self-regulatory policy
instruments; environmental law - a strategic issue for industry; and the role of bankers in
the promotion of compliance with environmental law by industries. At the end of the
workshop, participants recommended principles and regulatory frameworks to enhance industry
compliance and good environmental stewardship. The participants at the workshop were drawn
from industry as well as Governments and were from Burkina Faso, Malawi, Mozambique, Sao
Tome and Principe, the Republic of South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda,
Kenya, Guinea and Gabon. For more information contact the UNEP Regional Office for Africa
(ROA), PO Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya, tel.: +254 (2) 624283/4284; fax: +254 (2) 623928; e-
mail: roainfo@unep.org; Internet: http://www.unep.org/unep/regoffs/roa/
THIRD UNEP GLOBAL TRAINING PROGRAMME IN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY: UNEP's Third Global
Training Programme in Environmental Law and Policy (GTP3) was held in Nairobi from 22
September - 9 October 1997. Using funds provided by the Government of the Netherlands, GTP3
supported the participation of government lawyers and policy makers from the following
countries: Barbados, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte
d'Ivoire, Cuba, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Indonesia, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic
Republic, Lebanon, Malawi, Myanmar, Nepal, Palestinian Authority, Romania, Seychelles, South
Africa, Ukraine, Uruguay, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Participants were chosen from approximately
140 government nominations to ensure a training group that was gender-balanced,
geographically representative and diverse in terms of legal training and substantive
expertise.
GTP3 exposed participants to a wide range of environmental law issues and provided a unique
forum within which they could share their respective experiences. Emphasis was placed on the
practical application of environmental law concepts and principles. This process was aided
by the use of case studies, including two field trips that explored the environmental
concerns related to human settlements, industrial growth and agricultural development in
Kenya.
In total, participants benefited from the expertise of over 50 resource persons from: UNEP's
substantive and regional offices (e.g., covering atmosphere, water, land, biodiversity,
economics/trade, environmental assessment, environmental information, Latin Amer-
ica/Caribbean and Asia/Pacific); environmental convention secretariats (e.g., the
Secretariat for the Basel Convention, the Ozone Secretariat, the Climate Change Secretariat
and the Secretariat for the Convention on Migratory Species); the UN Centre for Human
Settlements; international, national and local non-governmental organizations;
representatives from the private sector; and government officials from the District and
Municipality of Thika, Kenya as well as the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Following recommendations made by participants in earlier global training programmes, GTP3
emphasized the linkages between (1) science and policy, (2) economic development and
environmental protection and (3) law regimes at the international, regional and national
levels. A variety of training methods (e.g. presentations, group discussions, small group
exercises and audiovisual tools) were used to assist participants in acquiring new or
improved knowledge and skills in the area of environmental law and policy. Participants
urged UNEP to organize additional global training programmes and to consider involving
representatives from developed countries as well. Participants' evaluations showed GTP3 was
relevant, useful and effective. As a result of GTP3, participants said they now feel more
prepared to contribute to the identification and resolution of environmental issues in their
respective countries. For more information contact the UNEP Regional Office for Africa
(ROA), PO Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya, tel.: +254 (2) 624283/4284; fax: +254 (2) 623928; e-
mail: roainfo@unep.org; Internet: http://www.unep.org/regoffs/roa/home.htm
UPCOMING
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE BARENTS EURO-ARCTIC COUNCIL: The fifth Ministerial meeting of the
Barents Euro-Arctic Council will be held in Luleå, northern Sweden from 19 - 20 January
1998. The Council is made up of the five Nordic countries and Russia and also includes the
European Commission. The objectiveis to attain a sustainable development in the Barents
region. For information contact Viveka Bohn, Swedish Foreign Ministry; e-mail:
viveka.bohn@foreign.ministry.se.
WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TEACHING AND RESEARCH NEEDS IN CANADA: This meeting will
be held from 29 - 31 January 1998 at the International Institute for Sustainable Development
(IISD) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Natural Resource Institute of the University of Manitoba
and IISD will sponsor the meeting. Participants from the Canadian Consortium for Sustainable
Development Research will be also participate. Brain Emmett, the Commissioner for
Environment and Sustainable Development, will present the keynote address. For more
information contact Juanita Ama Huletey, (IISD); tel.: +1 (204) 958-7738; fax: +1 (204) 958-
7710; e-mail: jhuletey@iisd.ca; Internet: http://iisd.ca.
EXPERT GROUP MEETING ON STRATEGIC APPROACHES TO FRESHWATER MANAGEMENT: In preparation for
the 6th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, the Government of Zimbabwe and
the DESA will host this meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe from 27 - 30 January 1998. The meeting
is sponsored by the Governments of Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK
and the European Commission. For more information contact Johan Kuylenstierna, Project
Coordinator, UNDESA, New York, NY 10017, US; tel.: +1 (212) 963 3794; fax: +1 (212) 963
1795; e-mail: kuylenstierna@un.org.
INTER-REGIONAL EXPERT GROUP ON CONSUMER PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION: The process
of extending the UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection into the area of Sustainable
Consumption will begin with the meeting "Inter-Regional Expert Group on Consumer Protection
and Sustainable Consumption: New Guidelines for the Global Consumer." The meeting will
develop policy recommendations for the Ad-Hoc Inter-Sessional Working Group of the CSD. The
experts will meet in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 28 - 30 January 1998. The meeting is being
organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and hosted by the Environment
Secretariat of the State of Sao Paulo and the Latin American Parliament. For information
contact: Maria Elena Hurtado, Consumers International; tel.: +44 (0) 171 226 6663, ext. 205;
fax: +44 (0) 171 354 0607;
http://www.consumersinternational.org.
MEASURING CHANGES IN CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION PATTERNS: This workshop will be held in New
York at UN Headquarters from 2 - 3 March 1998. The objective of the Workshop is to identify
a provisional core set of indicators to measure changes in consumption and production
patterns. The workshop is undertaken in the context of both the International Work Programme
on Changing Consumption and Production Patterns, and the Work Programme on Indicators of
Sustainable Development (WPCSD) of the CSD. A background paper for the meeting is currently
being drafted by the Secretariat of the CSD. The paper draws on previous discussions with
experts, who were asked to comment on an earlier version of the paper, and to propose
indicators reflecting key elements related to changing consumption and production patterns.
For more information: contact Erik Brandsma (tel.: +1 (212) 963 0013); Catherine Rubbens
(tel.: +1 (212) 963 52 43), or Lars Mortensen (tel.: +1 (212) 963 2137); Division for
Sustainable Development, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs; fax +1 (212) 963 42
60; or email: rubbens@un.org.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS: The Second In-
ternational Conference of the European Society for Ecological Economics will be held at the
University of Geneva, Switzerland, from 5 - 6 March 1998. The topic is "Ecological Economics
and Development." For information contact: Roderick Lawrence, Centre Universitaire
d'Ecologie Humaine, University of Geneva, 102 Bld Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland;
fax: +41 22 705 81 73; e-mail: lawrence@uni2a.unige.ch
WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION ASIAN CONFERENCE (WEFTEC ASIA '98): This conference will be
held from 7 - 11 March 1998 in Singapore at the Raffles City Convention Center. The
Conference is co-sponsored by the Water Environment Federation and the Environmental
Engineering Society of Singapore. For information contact: the Water Environment Federation,
601 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1994 US; tel.: +1 (703) 684-2400; fax: +1 (703) 684-
2492; e-mail: webfeedback@wef.org; Internet: http://www.wef.org. Also try Conference and
Exhibition Management Services (CEMS), 1 Maritime Square 09-43, World Trade Centre,
Singapore 099253; e-mail: confinfo@wef.org; Internet:
http://www.wef.org/docs/weftecasia.html
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WATER AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This conference will take
place in Paris from 19 - 21 March 1998 and is sponsored by the French Ministry for Foreign
Affairs and the Ministry of Environment. The main goal of the Paris Conference is to take
part in the implementation of strategies aimed at improving water management, being in rural
areas or in urban ones, to guarantee a better supply in drinking water, sanitation and
irrigation. For information contact Anne Perrin, at S-Eau s/c GRET, 211-213 rue La Fayette
75010 Paris, France; tel.: +33 (0) 1 40 05 61 30; fax: +33 (0) 1 40 05 61 10/11; e-mail:
anne.perrin@gret.org
34TH WORLD CONGRESS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES (IULA): This meeting will be
held from 21 - 25 March 1999 at the Barcelona Conference Centre in Barcelona, Spain. The
Theme will be "Local Government Uniting in a Global Mission. Democratization,
Decentralization and Cooperation." For more information contact: Alfred Bosch, IULA
Congress, Departament de Relacions Internacionals, Ajuntament de Barcelona, Pl. Sant Jaume
s/n, 08002 Barcelona, Spain; tel.: +3 43 402 78 82; fax +3 43 402 78 77; e-mail:
tdalmau@mail.bcn.es.
INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CONFERENCE: This meeting will be held from 3
- 4 April 1998 in Leeds, UK. For more information contact ERP Environment; tel.: +44 0 1274-
530408; fax: +44 0 1274-530409.
WORKSHOP ON PARTICIPATORY NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: This meeting
will be held from 6 - 7 April in Oxford, UK. For more information contact Bhaskar Vira,
Oxford; tel: +44 - 1865 - 2846; fax: +44 - 1865 - 2708; e-mail
Bhaskar.vira@mansfield.oxford.ac.uk.
SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT: The conference, "Sustainability and the Role of Impact
Assessment in the Global Economy: Excellence, Innovation and Adaptability" will be held from
19 - 24 April 1998 in Christchurch, New Zealand. For more information contact the IAIA
Executive Office; e-mail:
iaia@ndsuext.nodak.edu.
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
Intersessional will be held from 23 February - 6 March 1998 at UN Headquarters in New York.
The Intersessional will deal with Industry and Sustainable Development and Freshwater. Both
groups will include focused consideration of matters of technology transfer as they relate
to the theme under discussion as well as provide for an integrated consideration of other
relevant means of implementation, particularly finance. Each will also take consideration of
the two overarching issues of poverty and changing consumption and production patterns.
The CSD will hold its sixth session (CSD-6) in New York from 20 April - 1 May 1998. For more
information contact the Division for Sustainable Development; United Nations Plaza, Room
DC2-2270, New York, NY 10017 USA; telephone: +1 (212) 963 3170; fax: + 1 (212) 963 4260;
Internet; http://www.un.org/dpcsd; e-mail: dpcsd@un.org.
ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: This meeting will
be held in Tunis, Tunisia from 24 - 26 March 1998. The conference's primary objective is to
exchange ideas in the fields of assessing the costs of pollution, analyzing the constraints,
opportunities and international experiences in applying economic instruments in
environmental protection. For more information contact: CITET; tel.: + (216)-1-770 285; fax:
+ (216)-1-772 255.
WORLD INFORMATION TRANSFER'S ANNUAL HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT: World Information Transfer will
hold its annual Health and Environment: Conference, "Global Partners for Global Solutions"
at UN headquarters in New York from 16 - 17 April 1998. This year's topic is: the Trauma of
Environmental Disaster The co-sponsoring UN Member State is Bangladesh. For more information
contact: World Information Transfer, 444 Park Ave South, Suite 1202, New York, NY 10021.
tel: +1 (212) 686-1996, option 3. fax: +1 (212) 686-2172; email: wit@igc.apc.org
SECOND SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS: The Second Summit of the Americas will be held from 18 - 19
April in Santiago, Chile. For more information contact: Organization of American States,
Foreign Trade Information System - SICE, 1889 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20006, USA; tel.:
+1 (202)458-3725; fax: +1 (202) 458-3907; e-mail: forum_m@sice.oas.org; Internet:
http://www.sice.oas.org/
CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ROLE OF IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY: This
meeting will be held from 19 - 24 April 1998 in Christchurch, New Zealand. For more
information contact: IAIA, e-mail: iaia@ndsuext.nodak.edu.
CONFERENCE ON WATERSHED MANAGEMENT: MOVING FROM THEORY TO IMPLEMENTATION: This meeting will
be held from 3 - 6 May 1998 in Denver, Colorado, US. For more information contact: Water
Environment Federation; tel.: +1 (703) 684-2400
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON COMMUNITY-BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: This meeting will be
held from 10 - 14 May 1998 in Washington, DC. For more information contact Christopher D.
Gerrard, World Bank/EDI, Room G 5-141, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20433; fax: + 1
(202) 676-0977; e-mail: cgerrard1@worldbank.org; Internet:
http://www.worldbank.org/html/edi/conatrem/index.htm.
CONFERENCE ON THE DILEMMA OF ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT: This meeting will take place from 19 - 25
May 1998 in Florence, Italy. For more information Borsi Zeide, University of Arkansas; tel.:
+1 (870) 460-1648; e-mail: zeide@uamont.edu.
ECWATECH 98 -WATER: ECOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY: This meeting will be held in Moscow, Russia from
25 - 30 May 1998. Maximum emphasis will be focused on practical, specific, technical,
technological and managerial problems that trouble managers, experts and administrators. For
information contact the Secretariat; tel: (+7-095) 207 63 60; fax: (+7-095) 207 64 75; e-
mail: ecwatech@sibico.msk.ru; Internet: http://www.relcom.ru/ecwatech/.
WORLD CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF CITIES AND CITIZENS FOR CULTIVATING ECO-
SOCIETY: This meeting, "Eco-Partnership Tokyo," will be held from 26 - 29 May 1998 and
organized jointly by the UN and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The Conference will focus
on the following three major themes: establishing regional recycling systems; international
cooperation toward the realization of an eco-society; and the civilization of an eco-society
towards new patterns of consumption and production. For information contact: Juxia Yan,
DGPAF/DESA; tel: +1 (212) 963-6052; fax: +1 (212) 963-2916 or Shin Yamamoto or Masanori
Sugitani, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku 2-chome Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-
01, Japan; tel.: +81-3-5388-3090, 3097 or 3155; fax: +81-3-5388-1329; e-mail: ccc-
info@Tokyo-teleport.co.jp;
Internet: http://www.tokyo-teleport.co.jp/world-ccc/.
MIRAMICHI INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE: This meeting will be held from 27 - 29 May
1998 in Miramichi, New Brunswick. For more information contact Mr. R. Augustine, 1773 Water
Street, Miramichi, NB, Canada E1N 1B2; tel.: + 1 (506) 627-4633; fax: +1 (506) 622-7492; e-
mail: Raugustine@igs.net.
ETHICS AND THE CULTURE OF DEVELOPMENT: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY: This international
conference will be held in Havana, Cuba from 31 May - 5 June, 1998 and is presented by
UNESCO's Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, the American Friends Service
Committee, and the Centro Felix Varela. The task of the conference is to develop
comprehensive guidelines for building a sustainable economy. Working group and plenary
sessions will address topics such as socially responsible markets and enterprise, the
science and technology of sustainability, and the fundamental ethical and spiritual
dimensions of how culture, education, human rights, and our notions of social order and
civilization are at play in the challenge of building a just and sustainable economic order.
For more information contact: the Cuba Conference Staff, American Friends Service Committee,
Latin America and Caribbean Desk, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102; tel.:
+215.241.7296; fax: 215.241.7026; e-mail: idlac@afsc.org; Internet:
http://www.afsc.org/cubahome.htm.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WORLD WATER RESOURCES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY: This
conference, "Water: A Looming Crisis?" will be held at UNESCO in Paris from 3 - 6 June 1998.
The conference will be convened by UNESCO, the International Association of Hydrological
Sciences (IAHS) and the World Water Council (WWC). The meeting intends to: take stock of the
present knowledge of water resources of the world taking into account both the quantitative
and qualitative aspects; identify water problems to be faced in the next century due to the
increased demand for water for human consumption and use, irrigation and industry; and
recommend strategies to the international scientific community for dealing with these chal-
lenges for the future. For more information contact: UNESCO, Division of Water Sciences, 1
Rue Miollis, 75732 Paris Cédex 15, France; fax: +33 1 45 68 58 11; Internet:
http://www.pangea.org/orgs/unesco/Flash.html
SIXTH FORUM ON NATURE CONSERVATION AND PASTORALISM: This meeting will be held in Luhacovice,
in the south-east of the Czech Republic, from 6 - 10 June 1998. The proposed theme for the
conference is "Managing high nature conservation value farmland: policies, processes and
practices" and the meeting should focus on practical lessons to be learned from experiences
in both the EU and central Europe. For information contact Dr Davy McCracken, Environmental
Sciences Department, Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW, UK; fax: +44
(0)1292 525 333; e-mail: D.McCracken@au.sac.ac.uk.
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT: This symposium will be held from 8
- 12 June 1998 in Tromsø, Norway. The theme is "Information for Sustainability," focusing on
the use of Earth observation satellites in understanding and managing the environment. For
information contact the Norwegian Space Centre, PO Box 113 Skoyen, N-0212 Oslo, Norway; fax:
+47 22 51 18 01; e-mail: isrse@spacecentre.no; Internet: http://www.spacecentre.no
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES: This
meeting will be held from 8 - 12 June 1998 in Rovaniemi, Finland. For more information
contact "Resource Technology 98;" P.O.Box 16, FIN-96301, Rovaniemi, Finland; fax: +358-16-
3364640; e-mail: rt98sec@roi.metla.fi; Internet: http://www.metla.fi/event/rt98/.
FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF WAR: LEGAL,
ECONOMIC AND SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES: This meeting will be held from 10 - 12 June in
Washington, DC. For information contact: Carl Bruch, Environmental Law Institute, 1616 P
St., NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036; tel.: +1 (202) 939-3240; fax: +1 (202) 939-3868;
e-mail: bruch@eli.org; Internet: http://www.eli.org/ecw/home.htm.
IIASA/SSRC MEETING: An Open Meeting of the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
Research Committee will be held in Laxenburg, Austria from 12 - 14 June 1998. For more
information contact IIASA; A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria, tel:
+43-2236-807-0; fax: +43-2236-71313; e-mail: inf@iiasa.ac.at; Internet:
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/
TWELFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN WATER RESOURCES: This meeting
will be held in Crete, Greece from 15 - 19 June 1998 at the Institute of Chemical
Engineering and High Temperature Chemical Processes and the Foundation for Research and
Technology, Hellas (ICE/HT-FORTH). For information contact: Dr. Vasilis N. Burganos, ICE/HT-
FORTH, Stadiou St., Platani, GR26500, Patras, Greece or Dr. George P. Karatzas, RCGRD, 215
Votey Bldg., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Vermont,
Burlington, VT 05405, USA;
http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/cmwr98/.
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: The Kriton Curi
International Symposium on Environmental Management in the Mediterranean will be held from
18 - 20 June 1998 in Antalya, Turkey. For more information contact: Prof. Gunay Kocasoy,
Bogazici University; tel.: +90-212-263-150, ext. 1276; fax: +90-212-265-1800; e-mail:
Envsymp@boun.edu.tr.
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON ECOLOGY: The Congress will be held in Florence, Italy from 19 - 25
July 1998. For more information contact Almo Farina, INTECOL, Secretariat VII International
Congress of Ecology, c/o Lunigiana della Brunella, 54011 Aulla, Italy; tel.: +39-187-400252,
fax: +39-187-420727; e-mail: afarina@tamnet.it; Internet: http://www.tamnet.it/intecol.98
CONGRESS ON SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES: The First International Factor 4+ Congress
and Trade Fair will be held in Klagenfurt, Austria from 17 - 21 June 1998. This congress on
sustainable production technologies, products and services is organized by the Carinthian
Trade Fair, Austria and the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Germa-
ny. For information contact Jan-Dirk Seiler; tel.: +49 202 2492 102; fax: + 49 202 2492 108;
e-mail: jan_dirk_seiler@wupperinst.org; Internet: http://www.ktn-
messen.co.at/messe/english.htm
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ENVIRONMENTAL GEOTECHNOLOGY AND GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:
This meeting will be held from 9 - 12 August in Boston, MA, US. For information contact: Dr.
Vincent Ogunro; tel.: +1 (508) 934-3185; fax: 1 (508) 934-4014; e-mail:
ogunrov@woods.uml.edu.
IEP '98: Issues in Environmental Pollution (IEP'98), the first in a new series of
international symposia, will take place from 23 - 26 August 1998 in Denver, Colorado, US.
The symposium will focus on the state and use of science and predictive models. The main
scientific issues in environmental pollution--persistent organic chemicals; metals and
radioactivity; ozone and acidic deposition; particulates and global climate change--will be
linked with the use of science and predictive models. For more information contact Lyn
Quirke at the Conference Secretariat; tel.: +44-0-1235-868380; fax: +44-0-1235-868420; e-
mail: lynquirke@compuserve.com. Also try http://www.elsevier.nl/locate/iep98
34th INTERNATIONAL PLANNING CONGRESS ON LAND AND WATER: The 1998 World Planning Congress in
Azores, Portugal will be held from 26 September - 2 October 1998. The theme of the Congress
is the exploration of the inescapable correlation between the (spatial) planning for human
settlements and the natural environment on the one hand and the planning and management of
the earth's water resources on the other. For information contact: the ISoCaRP Secretariat;
tel.: +(31-70) 346 2654; fax: + (31-70) 361 7909; e-mail: isocarp@bart.nl; Internet:
http://www.soc.titech.ac.jp/isocarp
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT '98: The conference "Environmental Engineering and
Management '98" will be held in Barcelona, Spain from 30 September - 2 October 1998. For
information from Liz Kerr, ENVMAN 98; tel.: +44 (0) 1703 293223; fax: + 44 (0) 1703 292853;
e-mail: liz@wessex.ac.uk.
FIFTH INTERNATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS CONSERVATION CONGRESS: This Congress, scheduled from 14
- 18 September 1998 in Kirstenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa, will have the theme" Plants,
People and Planet Earth - the role of botanic gardens in sustainable living." The Congress
will be hosted by the National Botanical Institute of South Africa and organized by Botanic
Gardens Conservation International. For further information contact Prof. Brian J. Huntley,
National Botanical Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa; tel: +27 21 762
1166; fax: +27 21 761 4687; e-mail: bgci98@nbict.nbi.ac.za; or Botanic Gardens Conservation
International, Descanso House, 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW 3BW, UK; tel.: +44 181
3325953/4/5; fax: +44 181 3325956; e-mail: bgci@rbgkew.org.uk.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDUSTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE: This conference will be
held in Aalborg, Denmark from 23-25 September 1998. The themes to be discussed are:
environmental management; environmentally sound product development; self-regulation versus
public regulation; cleaner technology and prevention; and stakeholder management. For
further information contact the Secretariat at the Aalborg Congress & Culture Centre, tel.:
+45 9935 5555, fax: +45 9935 5580, e-mail: euro@akkc.dk;
Internet: http://www.akkc.dk/uk/euro/envire/index.htm
71ST ANNUAL WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION: This meeting will be held
from 3 - 7 October 1998 and the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida US. The
meeting is North America's largest water quality and pollution control conference and
exposition is expected to attract more than 14,000 of the world's leading water quality
experts and over 700 exhibiting companies for five days of technical education, information
exchange, and networking opportunities. For more information contact: the Water Environment
Federation, 601 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1994 US; tel.: +1 (703) 684-2400; fax: 1
(703) 684-2492; e-mail: webfeedback@wef.org; Internet: http://www.wef.org.
PARTNERS FOR DEVELOPMENT: "Partners for Development" will be hosted by the city of Lyon and
organized by UNCTAD from 9 - 12 November 1998. The summit will bring together repre-
sentatives from governments, NGOs, the private sector, academia, the media, and
international organizations to launch joint projects where market forces serve the cause of
development. There will be no negotiated texts or official statements, but the conclusion of
operational partnerships bringing tangible benefits for developing countries. For
information contact: Partners for Development, UNCTAD, Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10 -
Switzerland, tel: + 41 22 907 55 55; fax: + 41 22 907 00 22;
e-mail: alessandra vellucci@unctad.org;
Internet: http://www.unicc.org/unctad/en/special/tb44his5.htm.
SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE GREENING OF INDUSTRY NETWORK: This conference,
"Building Alliances for a Sustainable Future," will be held in Rome, Italy from 15-18
November 1998. The focus of this conference will be the engagement of partners in the
transition of society towards sustainability. The conferences of the Greening of Industry
Network are a platform for people from diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas, experiences
and to develop relationships, visions and practices for sustainability. For information
contact: Ellis Brand, University of Twente; tel: +31 53 489 3203; fax: +31 53 489 4850; e-
mail: M.L.Brand@CSTM.utwente.nl.
FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT: This meeting
will be held from 16 - 20 November in Monterey, CA, USA. For more information contact:
Cheryl Wasserman, US-EPA; fax: +1 (202) 260-0129.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE - GLOBAL MEETING OF GENERATIONS: This meeting will be
held from 13 - 15 January 1999 in Washington, DC, US. For more information contact:
International Development Conference; tel.: +1 (202) 884-8580, fax: 1 (202) 884-8499; e-
mail: idc@idc.org.
US NATIONAL SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The US National Summit on Sustainable
Development will be held in Detroit, MI from 2 - 5 May 1999. The Summit intends to introduce
a national dialogue about sustainable development to the US public, showcase and celebrate
sustainable development efforts already underway across the country, and spark a greater
movement toward a sustainable development path for American business, government,
environmental, and social service community. For more information contact Patricia
Sinicropi, PCSD; +1 (202) 408-5445.
TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT
ASIA PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION: The conference "Energy Security in APEC: Fuel
Supplies for the Power Industry" will be held from 3 - 4 February 1998 in Honolulu, Hawaii,
US. The APEC R&D Leaders Forum will be held from 11 - 15 March in Taipei. The Third APEC
Energy Ministers' Meeting will be held from 9 - 10 October in Okinawa, Japan. The Tenth APEC
Ministerial Meeting will be held from 14 - 15 November 1998 and the Sixth 6th APEC Economic
Leaders' Meeting will meet from 16 - 18 November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Eleventh
APEC Ministerial Meeting will be held from 10 - 11 September and the Seventh APEC Economic
Leaders' Meeting will be held on 13 September in Auckland, New Zealand. For information
contact the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat, 438 Alexandra Road, #14-00,
Alexandra Point, Singapore 119958; tel : +(65) 276-1880; fax: +(65) 276-1775; e-mail:
info@mail.apecsec.org.sg; Internet: http://www.apecsec.org.sg/
NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT-COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION: The NAFTA-CEC
Transboundary Environmental Assessment Meeting will be held from 3 - 5 February 1998 in
Montreal, Canada. For more information contact: Maria Garcia, NAFTA-CEC, tel: +1 (514) 350-
4366, e-mail: mgarcia@ccemtl.org. The NAFTA-CEC Working Group on Environmental Enforcement
and Compliance will be held from 9 - 11 February 1998 in Montreal. The NAFTA-CEC Compliance
Indicators Meeting will be held from 4 - 6 April 1998 in Mexico City, Mexico. For more
information on both meetings contact: Linda Duncan, NAFTA-CEC, tel: +1 (514) 350-4334; e-
mail: lduncan@ccemtl.org.
OECD: The Meeting of the Agricultural Committee at Ministerial level will be held from 5 - 6
March 1998. A meeting on Education and Sustainable Consumption, organized by the Environment
Directorate, will be held from 11 - 12 March 1998. The Meeting of the Environment Committee
at Ministerial level will be held from 2 - 3 April 1998. The High-Level Meeting of the
Development Assistance Committee will be held from 8 - 9 April 1998. The OECD Council at
Ministerial level will be held from 27 - 28 April 1998. For information contact: OECD, 2 rue
André Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France; tel: + 33 (0)1 45 24 81 19; fax: +33 (0)1 45 24
80 07; e-mail: news.contact@oecd.org.
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION: From 17 - 18 March 1998, the WTO Committee on Trade and
Environment (CTE) will convene a second NGO Symposium in Geneva: Strengthening Com-
plementarities between Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development (for coverage of the
first WTO NGO Symposium, held in March 1997, see http://www.iisd.ca/sd).
Participants and speakers have been invited from the private sector, research and academic
institutes, environment and development NGOs. The Symposium will address three broad themes:
identifying institutional links in the trade-environment-sustainable development nexus;
deepening understanding of the economic links between trade liberalization and the
environment; and examining the issue of legal compatibility between international trade and
environmental policies. For further information contact Scott Vaughan at the WTO
Secretariat, Environment Division: tel. + 41-22-739-5091; fax: + 41-22-739-5620; e-mail:
webmaster@wto.org;
Internet: http://www.wto.org.
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN (ECLAC): ECLAC will hold its twenty-
seventh session in Aruba from 11 - 16 May 1998. The chief topic of debate at the session
will be the issue of fiscal management in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
For more information try http://www.eclac.cl/index1.html.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP): ESCAP will hold its fifty-
fourth session in Bangkok, Thailand in March/April 1998. For more information contact ESCAP,
Rajdamnern Ave., Bangkok 10200, Thailand; e-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org;
Internet: http://www.unescap.org/
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE: The UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) will hold its
fifty-third session will be held in Geneva from 20 - 23 April 1998. For more information
contact the ECE Information Office, Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; tel: +41
22 917 2893; fax:+41 22 917 0036; e-mail:info.ece@unece.org; Internet:
http://www.unicc.org/unece/.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY IN WORLD TRADE: The British Council in London, UK, will hold
this conference from 6 - 9 September 1998. The conference will provide senior figures in
government, business and civil society with an update on prospects for environmentally
responsible international trade, and will consider what policies and practices may be
introduced to exploit these. For information contact the British Council; tel: +44 (0) 1865
316636; fax: +44 (0) 1865 557368; e-mail: international.seminars@britcoun.org; Internet:
http://www.britcoun.org/seminars/.
FIFTH INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS: This
meeting, Beyond Growth: Institutions and Policies for Sustainability," will be held from 15
- 19 November 1998 in Santiago, Chile. For more information contact Osvaldo Sunkel;
Organizing Committee, International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE), Universidad de
Chile, Diagonal Paraguay 265, Torre 15, of. 1303, Santiago, Chile; tel.: +56 2 678 2308 - 56
2 678 2272; fax: +56 2 678 2581; e-mail: ISEEconf@abello.dic.uchile.cl; Internet:
http://www.uchile.cl/facultades/ISEE3.html.
CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE
POST KYOTO CONFERENCE: This conference, entitled "Post-Kyoto and Beyond: Implications,
Impacts, and Issues for States and Localities" from 21 - 22 January 1998 in Baltimore,
Maryland at the Hotel Marriott. The meeting is sponsored by the Center for Clean Air Policy,
the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), the State and Territorial air Pollution
Program Administrators (STAPPA)/Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials
(ALAPCO), and the EPA. For more information, contact Mary-Bittle Koenick or Ellina Levina;
+1 (202) 408-9260, e-mail:
general@ccap.org.
CLIMATE AFTER KYOTO: This meeting, "Climate After Kyoto: Implications for Energy," will be
held in London, UK from 5 - 6 February 1998. "Climate After Kyoto" will focus upon the out-
come and implications of Kyoto for the world's environment and energy industries, and upon
the likely follow-up steps. The conference is expected to attract several hundred leading
government, industrial and non-governmental participants. For information contact: the Royal
Institute of International Affairs; tel.: + (41) 171-957 5700; fax: +(41) 171-321 2045; e-
mail; contact@riia.org; Internet:
http://www.riia.org/.
MONTREAL PROTOCOL: The Environmental Effects Assessment Panel will meet from 23 - 28
February 1998 in Sri Lanka and from 9 - 17 August 1998 in Hawaii, USA. The Halon Technical
Options Committee will meet from 24 - 27 February 1998 at the UNESCO in Paris, France. The
Aviation and the Global Atmosphere Committee will meet in March 1998 in Virginia, USA. The
Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund will meet from 23 - 27 March 1998 in Montreal,
Canada. The Scientific Assessment Panel Meeting will be held from 1 - 5 June 1998 in Les
Diablerets, Switzerland. The Ad Hoc Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Non-
Compliance will be held from 1 - 3 July 1998 at the International Conference Centre, Geneva,
Switzerland. The Implementation Committee under the Non-Compliance Procedure for the
Montreal Protocol will meet on 6 July 1998 at the International Conference Centre, Geneva,
Switzerland.
The Bureau of the 9th Meeting of the Montreal Protocol will be held on 6 July 1998 and the
17th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol will be
held from 7 - 10 July 1998 in Geneva. The Ad Hoc Working Group of the Legal and Technical
Experts on Non-Compliance will meet from 11 - 13 November 1998 in Cairo, Egypt. The Tenth
Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
will be held from 17 - 27 November 1998 in Cairo, Egypt. For more information contact the
Secretariat for the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol in Nairobi, Kenya; tel:
+(254-2) 62-1234/62-3851; fax: +(254-2) 52-1930 /62-3913; Internet:
http://www.unep.ch/ozone.
US CLIMATE CHANGE REGIONAL WORKSHOPS: The Rocky Mountains and Great Basin regional workshop
will be held at Utah State University in Salt Lake City, UT from 16-18 February by the DOI.
The Gulf Coast workshop will be held at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge,
LA from 25 - 27 February by the EPA. The Southwest Border workshop will be held at the
University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, TX from March 2 - 4 and will be coordinated by
NASA. The workshop for Hawaii and the Pacific Islands at the University of Hawaii in
Honolulu, HI from 3 - 6 March and organized by FEMA, NOAA, and DOI. The California workshop
will be held at University of California, Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA from 9 - 11
March.
The Metropolitan East Coast workshop will be held at Columbia University in New York City,
NY from 23 - 24 March. The Southern Great Plains workshop will be held from Texas A&M
University at a date TBD in late March. The Upper Great Lakes workshop will be held at the
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI from 5 - 7 May 1998. The Appalachian workshop will
be held at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV from 26 - 29 May 1998. For information
contact: Melissa Taylor; National Assessment Coordination Office of the US Global Change
Research Program; tel: +1 (202) 314-2239; fax: +1 (202) 488-8681; e-mail:
mtaylor@usgcrp.gov; Internet: http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/news/calendar.html.
TASK XV GREENHOUSE GAS BALANCES OF BIOENERGY SYSTEMS WORKSHOP: This workshop, entitled "Ef-
fects of the Kyoto Protocol on forestry and bioenergy projects for mitigation of net carbon
emissions," will be held from 9 - 13 March 1998 in Rotorua, New Zealand. The meeting is
organized by the New Zealand Forest Research Institute (NZFRI) and Joanneum Research of
Austria. This workshop is organized within IEA Bioenergy Task XV ("Greenhouse Gas Balances
of Bioenergy Systems") and is part of a series of meetings taking place every 6 to 12
months. For further information: Joanneum Research (attn. Reinhard Madlener); tel: +43-316-
876 (1) 340; fax: +43-316-876 (1)320; e-mail:
reinhard.madlener@joanneum.ac.at; Internet:
http://www.joanneum.ac.at/IEA-Bioenergy-TaskXV.
NATIONAL ASSESSMENT RESULTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND RESPONSES: This meeting will be
held in San Jose, Costa Rica from 25 - 28 March 1998. This conference will enable analysts
to present results of climate change impacts and adaptation assessments on coastal
resources, agriculture, water resources, forests, human health, biodiversity, and other sec-
tors to the IPCC, GEF, UNFCCC, governments, and researchers. For more information contact
Sandra Guill, US Country Studies Program, Forrestal Building, (PO-6), 1000 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington DC 20585 USA, fax: +1 (202) 586-3485; e-mail: sguill@igc.apc.org
FCCC MEETINGS: The FCCC subsidiary bodies will meet from 2 - 12 June 1998 in Bonn, Germany.
The subsequent subsidiary bodies meetings will coincide with the Fourth Conference of the
Parties in Buenos Aires, Argentina, scheduled from 2 - 13 November 1997. For more
information contact the UNFCCC secretariat in Bonn, Germany; tel: +49-228-815-1000; fax:+49-
228-815-1999; e-mail: secretariat@unfccc.de. Also try the FCCC home page at
http://www.unfccc.de and UNEP's Information Unit for Conventions at http://www.unep.ch/iuc/.
GLOBAL WARMING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND EXPO: This meeting will be held from 8 - 11 June
1998 in Hong Kong, China. For information contact the GW9 International Program Committee,
c/o GWIC (Global Warming International Center, USA); P.O. Box 5275, Woodridge, IL, 60517-
0275 US; fax: 1 (630) 910-1561.
FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GREENHOUSE GAS CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES (GHGT-4): This
conference will be held from 30 August - 2 September 1998 in Interlaken, Switzerland. For
information contact: Dr. Baldur Eliasson, Head, Energy and Global Change, ABB Corporate Re-
search Ltd., Baden-Dättwil , Switzerland.; tel: + 41-56-486 80 31; fax: + 41-56-493 45 69 e-
mail: baldur.eliasson@chcrc.abb.ch.
CONGRESS OF THE WORLD ENERGY COUNCIL: This meeting will be held from 13 - 17 September 1998
in Houston, Texas, US. For more information contact: The Houston Congress; tel.: +1 (202)
331-0415; fax: +1 (202) 331-0418; Internet: http://www.wec98congress.org/
ELEVENTH WORLD CLEAN AIR & ENVIRONMENT CONGRESS (& EXPO): The Congress is schedule from 13 -
18 September 1998 in Durban, South Africa. For information contact: Conference Secretariat,
PO Box 36782, Menlo Park 0102, South Africa; fax: +27 12 460 170 e-mail:
wissing@iafrica.com.
SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MODELING, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OF AIR POLLUTION (Air
Pollution '98): This meeting will be held from 28 - 30 September 1998 in Genova, Italy. The
meeting will be organized by the Wessex Institute of Technology (UK) and the Universita di
Genova, Italy. The objective of this meeting is to bring together scientists working in
industry, research organizations, government and academia who are working on monitoring,
simulation and management of air pollution problems. For information contact: Sally Radford,
Conference Secretariat, Air Pollution 98, WIT; tel: +44 (0) 1703 293223; fax: +44 (0)1703
292853; e-mail: sradford@wessex.ac.uk
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TROPICAL FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE: This meeting will be held
from 19-22 October 1998, Manila, the Philippines. For more information contact the
Conference Secretariat, Environmental Forestry Program, UPLB College of Forestry, 4031
College, Laguna, the Philippines; tel.: + 63-49-536-2342; fax: +63-49-536-2341; e-mail:
Rdl@mudspring.uplb.edu.ph.
BIODIVERSITY
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DIVERSITY AS A RESOURCE: This meeting will be held from 2 - 5
February 1998 in Rome and will be hosted by COBASE. For information contact Anna Borioni;
tel: +39-6-333-0078/8552; fax:+39-6-333-0081; e-mail: Anna.borioni@inet.it.
BIOSAFETY: The next meeting of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Biosafety will be held
in Montreal from 5 - 13 February 1998. At its third meeting, the Working Group established a
mechanism to enable governments to develop consolidated text upon which future negotiations
would be based. In the report of the third meeting, the Working Group adopted in Annex I to
the Report a 'Consolidated Text of Draft Articles. Documents pertaining to the negotiations
can be downloaded from http://www.biodiv.org
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICINAL PLANTS CONSERVATION, UTILIZATION, TRADE AND
BIOCULTURES: This meeting is scheduled from 16 - 20 February 1998 at the National Institute
of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore, India. The meeting will
focus on the issue of medicinal plants for survival. For further information, contact the
Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), No. 50, 2nd Stage,
MSHLayout, Anandnagar, Bangalore 560 024, India; tel.: +91 80 333 6909/0348; fax:+91 80 333
4167; e-mail: root@frlht.ernet.in.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 2000: An international conference on agricultural statistics will be
held in Washington, D.C. from 18-20 March 1998. The Conference is sponsored by the Inter-
national Statistical Institute (ISI) and hosted by the National Agricultural Statistics
Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA/NASS), Agricultural Statistics 2000,
which will focus on current and future needs for agricultural statistics in developed,
emerging market and developing countries, as well as the requirements for statistical and
technological development to meet those needs. For information, contact program chair: Fred
Vogel, USDA/NASS, Room 5801 South Building, 1400 Independence Ave SW, Washington, D.C.
20250-2000; e-mail: fvogel@nass.usda.gov; tel: +1 (202) 720-3896; fax: +1 (202) 690-1311.
COP-4 PREPARATORY MEETINGS: The Economies in Transition Regional Preparatory Meeting for
COP-4 will be held from 23 - 26 March 1998 in Almaty, Kazakstan. The Asian Regional
Preparatory Meeting for Asia (China), the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Preparatory
Meeting (Mexico) and the African Regional Preparatory Meeting (location TBA) are tentatively
scheduled for March 1998. The CHM Workshop African Region is scheduled for March 1998
(tentative) in a location to be determined. For more information contact the CBD
Secretariat, World Trade Centre, 393 St. Jacques Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9;
tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: chm@biodiv.org; Internet:
http://www.biodiv.org.
UNEP (ROE)/COUNCIL OF EUROPE - PAN-EUROPEAN BIOLOGICAL AND LANDSCAPE DIVERSITY STRATEGY: The
Third Meeting of the Executive Bureau for the Pan-European Biological and Landscape
Diversity Strategy will be held in Geneva from 7 - 8 April 1998. e-mail: iuc@unep.ch;
Internet: http://www.unep.ch/.
WORKSHOP ON BIODIVERSITY AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT: IUCN is coordinating a workshop on
Biodiversity and Impact Assessment at the 18th annual IAIA meeting in Christchurch, NZ from
22 - 23April 1998. The workshop will examine how impact assessment can be used as a tool for
biodiversity and how biodiversity issues are addressed through impact assessment. A
statement from the workshop will be taken to the 4th Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on Biological Diversity. For more information contact: Andrea Bagri, IUCN-The
World Conservation Union, Economic Services Unit, Rue Mauverney 28, Gland 1196 Switzerland,
esu@indaba.iucn.org. More information on the workshop and subject can be found at
http://iucn.org/themes/economics.
WEST ASIAN/NORTH AFRICAN REGIONAL MEETING ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES: This meeting will be
held in Spring '98 in Aleppo, Syria and is organized by FAO/IPGRI/ICARDA. The first Global
Plan for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food
and Agriculture was formally adopted during the fourth International Conference on Plant
Genetic Resources in Leipzig, Germany in 1996. This meeting will discuss the implementation
of the Global Plan of Action in the West Asian and North African Region. For information
contact; IPGRI-WANA/CA; Regional Office, c/o ICARDA, P.O. Box 5466; Aleppo, Syria; e-mail:
g.ayad@cgnet.com.
TENTH SESSION OF THE GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FORUM: IUCN is co-hosting the 10th session of the
Global Biodiversity Forum in Bratislava, Slovakia from 1 - 3 May 1998, immediately prior to
the 4th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The focus of GBF 10 is tentatively on: benefits-sharing partnerships; traditional knowledge;
integrating biodiversity into sectoral planning; clearing-house mechanism; sustainable use;
financial mechanisms and the CBD; and inland water biodiversity. For more information
contact: Caroline Martinet, IUCN-The World Conservation Union, Biodiversity Policy
Coordination Division, Rue Mauverney 28, Gland 1196 Switzerland, ccm@hq.iucn.org. More
information on the workshop and subject can be found at http://www.wri.org.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: The event will be held in conjunction with
COP-4 to the Convention on Biological Diversity from 4 - 15 May 1998, Bratislava, Slovakia.
For information contact Ing. Stefan Petkanic, INCHEBA,Viedenska cesta 7, 852 51 Bratislava,
Slovakia; tel.: +(4217) 802-210/802-051; fax: +(4217) 847-982; 581-5811665.
WORLD MINISTERIAL ROUNDTABLE ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: This roundtable will be held from 4 -
5 May 1998, Bratislava, Slovakia. For information contact: H.E. Mr. Jozef Zlocha, Minister
of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Namestie L. Stura 1, Bratislava, 812 35, Slovakia.
Tel. +421-7-516 2455/2460; Fax +421-7-516 2557 or Zuzana; Guziova, National Secretariat for
the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ministry of Environment, Hanulova 5/d, 841 02
Bratislava, Slovakia. tel: +421-7-786 581/568; E-mail: zuzana_g@ba.gef.sanec.sk.
FOURTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: COP-4 is
scheduled for 4 - 15 May 1998 in Bratislava, Slovakia. For more information contact the CBD
Secretariat, World Trade Centre, 393 St. Jacques Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9;
tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail: chm@biodiv.org; Internet:
http://www.biodiv.org.
MEETINGS UNDER THE CONVENTION ON BIODIVERSITY: A Liaison Group of Experts on Agro-
Biodiversity meeting is tentatively scheduled for October/November 1998. A meeting on the
Conservation and Sustainable Use of Inland Waters is tentatively scheduled for November. For
more information contact the CBD Secretariat, World Trade Centre, 393 St. Jacques Street,
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9; tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail:
chm@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org.
STRATEGIES AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR CONSERVATION OF SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIODIVERSITY IN WEST ASIA
AND NORTH AFRICA LANDSCAPES: This meeting will be held from 7 - 12 November 1998 in Marsa
Matrouh, Egypt. This international workshop is organized to focus on strategies and
technologies for conserving and for sustainable use of biological diversity in plant
communities in the Middle East. In addition, "hands on" training in the use of latest GIS
software for plant genetic resources and ecosystem assessment, monitoring, managing and
restoring plant resources and communities in the Middle East. For information contact:
IPGRI-WANA/CA; Regional Office, c/o ICARDA, P.O. Box 5466; Aleppo, Syria; e-mail:
g.ayad@cgnet.com.
SECOND ASIA-PACIFIC CONFERENCE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY: This meeting will be held from 23 - 27
November 1998 in Perth, Western Australia (WA). This conference will provide a blend of
papers on basic scientific and conservation issues and the application of new
biotechnologies to these. For more information contact Biodiversity, Biotechnology &
Biobusiness, Congress West Pty Ltd. PO Box 1248, West Perth WA 6872, Australia; fax. +61 8
9322 1734l; e-mail: biodiversity@science.murdoch.edu.au
EIGHTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE: The next
session of the CGFRA will take place during the second half of April 1999. The fifth and
sixth extraordinary sessions of the Commission are tentatively scheduled to be held in Rome
in June and September 1998. For more information, contact FAO: Viale delle Terme di Ca-
racalla, 00100 Rome, Italy; tel: +39-6-52251; +39-6-52253152. Also try http://www.fao.org or
http://web.icppgr.fao.org.
FORESTS
FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: A Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Trade Fair will be held in
London at the Commonwealth Institute on 28 January 1998. The purpose of the Fair is to show
the wide range of companies involved with FSC-approved wood, and to foster business links
within the wood-using industry. Exhibitors include manufacturers and traders of FSC
certified wooden products and FSC certified forests from a number of countries, and all five
FSC accredited certification bodies. For more information contact Vanessa Sequeira at WWF-
UK, Panda House, Weyside Park, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XR. Tel: 01483 426444, Fax: 01483
426409, Email: vsequeira@wwfnet.org.
WWF 1995+ GROUP ANNUAL CONFERENCE: The WWF 1995+ Group is holding its annual conference in
London at the Commonwealth Institute on 29 January 1998.The Conference will focus on the
developments made by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and the demand for FSC approved
products by industry and governmental bodies in the UK. For information contact Vanessa
Sequeira at WWF-UK, Panda House, Weyside Park, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XR; tel: +01483
426444, fax: +01483 426409, e-mail: vsequeira@wwfnet.org
SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PRIVATE FORESTS: This meeting will be held from 1 - 2 May
1998 in Penha Longa, Sintra, Portugal. For more information contact the Conference
Secretariat; Av. Do Colégio Militar, Lote 1786, 1500 Lisboa, Portugal; tel.: +351-1-710-
0000; +351-1-716-6122.
FIRST EUROPEAN FORUM ON URBAN FORESTRY: This meeting will be held from 4 - 8 May 1998 in
Wuppertal, Germany. For more information contact: Prof. Dr. Max Krott, Institut für
Forstpolitik, Forstgeschichte und Naturschutz, Büsgenweg 5, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany;
tel.: +49-551-393 412; fax: +49-551-392 415; email: mkrott@gwdg.de
HISTORY AND FOREST RESOURCES: This meeting, "History and Forest Resources - Changing
Economies and Changing Forests," will be held from 18 - 23 May 1998 in Florence, Italy. For
more information contact Dr. Mauro Agnoletti, Istituto di Assestamento e Tecnologia
Forestale, Università di Firenze, Via San Bonaventura 13, 50145, Firenze, Italy; tel.: +39-
55-302 3140, 302 31276; fax: +39-55-319 179; e-mail: agnoletti@cesit1.unifi.it.
THIRD MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON THE PROTECTION OF FORESTS IN EUROPE: This meeting will be
held in June in Lisbon, Portugal. For information contact: Liaiosn Unit, Direcção Geraldas
Florestas, Av. João Crisóstomo, 26-28, 1000 Lisboa, Portugal; tel.: + 351-1312-4807; + 351-
1312-4992; e-mail: Meeting@ip.pt.
SEMINAR ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH FOR TEACHING AND EVERYDAY LIFE IN FORESTRY: This
meeting will be held from 21-24 June 1998 in Praha, Czech Republic and organized by the
IUFRO and the Forestry and Game Management Research Institute of the Czech Republic. For
more information contact Vancura Karel, VÚLHM Jiloviste, Strnady 136, 156 04 Praha;
Zrbaslav, Czech Republic; tel.: +420-2-5792 1643,1286; fax: +420-2-5792 1444, email:
forinst@ms.anet.cz or vancura@vulhm.cz , Internet: http://www.vulhm.cz
LAW AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION IN EASTERN EUROPE: This meeting will be held from 24 - 27
June 1998 in Ossiach, Austria. For more information contact: Peter Herbst, Wulfenstrasse 15,
A-9500 Villach, Austria; tel: +43-4242-52471; fax: +43-4242-264048; e-mail:
hp@net4you.co.at.
XXI IUFRO WORLD CONGRESS: This meeting of the International Union of Forest Research
Organizations (IUFRO) will be held from 7 - 12 August 2000 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For
more information contact the Chair of the Organizing Committee, Forest Research Institute,
Kepong, 52109 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; fax: +603-636-7753; e-mail: Iufroxxi@frim.gov.my;
Internet:http://161.142.143.3/iufro.html/
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE INVENTORY AND MONITORING OF FORESTED ECOSYSTEMS: This
meeting will be held in Boise, Idaho, US from 16 - 20 August 1998. The meeting will provide
a forum for the exchange of information and new technologies pertaining to inventory,
monitoring, and modeling of forested ecosystems. For more information contact: Mark Hansen,
USDA Forest Service, 1992 Folwell Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108; fax: +1 (612) 649-5285;
e-mail: hanse034@maroon.tc.umn.edu; Internet:
http://dendron.fr.umn.edu/burk/boise/
CONTRIBUTION OF GENETICS TO THE SUSTAINED MANAGEMENT OF GLOBAL FOREST RESOURCES: IUFRO and
FAO will sponsor this meeting, which will be held from 22 - 28 August 1998 in Beijing,
China. The aim of the conference is to discuss accomplishments, trends and future
developments, redefine the role of forest genetics and breeding in contemporary forestry and
set priorities for future research and development. For more information contact: Prof. Hong
Jusheng, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Wan Shou Shan, Beijing 100091, China; fax: +86-10-
62884229; e-mail: zhangbp@caf.forestry.ac.cn.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL FORUM ON FORESTS: The Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) will hold
its first substantive meeting From 24 August - 4 September in 1998 Geneva. The second
session will be held in February/March 1999 in Geneva. The third session will be held in
February/March in a venue to be determined. For more information contact the Secretariat of
the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests, Two United Nations Plaza, 12th Floor, New York, NY
10017 USA; tel: +1 (212) 963-6208; fax: + 1 (212) 963-3463; Internet:
http://www.un.org/dpcsd/dsd/iff.htm.
INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE: The Task Force on Sustainable Forest Management
will sponsor this meeting, which will be held from 24 - 28 August 1998 in Heidelberg
Victoria, Australia. For more information contact: David W Flinn, Centre for Forest Tree
Technology, PO Box 137, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australial; tel.: +60-3-94508 666, fax:
+60-394508 644, email: d.flinn@dce.vic.gov.au.
GLOBAL CONCERNS FOR FOREST UTILIZATION: SUSTAINABLE USE AND MANAGEMENT: This meeting will be
held from 5 - 8 October 1998 in Miyazaki, Japan. For more information contact: Kiyoshi
Yukutake, Miyazaki University, Faculty of Agriculture & Forest Economics, 1-1 Gakuen
Kibanadai Nishi Miyazaki 889-21 Japan; tel.: +81-985-582 811; fax: +81-985-582 884; website:
http://www.miyazaki-u.ac.jp/FORESEA
FOREST ECOSYSTEM AND LAND USE IN THE MOUNTAIN AREAS: This meeting will be held from 12 - 17
October in Seoul, Korea. For more information contact: Don Lee, Seoul National University,
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Forest Resources, 103 Seodoondong,
Suwon 441-744 Korea; tel.: +82-331-2902327; fax: +82-331-2931797; email:
leedk@agri.snu.ac.kr.
ENVIRONMENTAL FOREST SCIENCE CONFERENCE: This meeting will be held from 19 - 23 October 1998
at Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. For more information contact: IUFRO8, Kyoto University,
Uji, Kyoto 611, Japan; tel.:+81-774-384110, 384111, fax: +81-774-384300, +81-774-325597; e-
mail: iufro8-sec@bio.mie-u.ac.jp or
L-NEWS@landslide.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp;
Internet: http://www.bio.mie-u.ac.jp/iufro8/bulletin2.html.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF SCIENCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOREST POLICIES: This meeting will be held
from 7 - 15 January 1999 in Pretoria, South Africa. For more information contact: Perry J.
Brown, Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, School of Forestry, University of
Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, US; tel.: +1 (406) 243-5522; fax: +1 (406) 243-4845, e-
mail: pbrown@selway.umt.edu.
NEW APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY FORESTS FOR THE 21ST
CENTURY: This meeting is scheduled for September 1999 in Belém, Pará, Brazil and is
organized by CATIE/WWF/CIFOR. For more information contact: Dr. Natalino Silva; Brazilian
Agricultural Research Corp., CP 48, CEP 66240 Belém, Pará, Brazil; tel: +55-91-2266622; fax:
+55-91-2269845;
e-mail: natalino@cpatu.embrapa.br, natalino@amazon.com.br.
ECOLOGICAL HISTORY - METHODS AND APPLICATIONS, A LABORATORY OF ECOLOGICAL HISTORY TOWARD THE
YEAR 2000: This meeting will be held in Sardinia, Italy in September 1999. For more
information contact: Prof. Alessandra Zanzi Sulli; Istituto di Selvicoltura, Via San
Bonaventura 13, I-50145 Firenze, Italy; tel.: +39-55-3023 1248, fax: +39-55-307 263, e-mail:
zanzi@cesit1.unifi.it
CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT
FOURTH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES OF THE BASEL CONVENTION: COP-4 of the Basel
Convention will be held in Kuching, Malaysia from 23 - 27 February 1998. Official documents
for COP-4 can be found at http://www.unep.ch/basel/index.html. The Secretariat of the Basel
Convention (SBC) can be reached at the Geneva Executive Center, 15 chemin des Anémones,
Building D 1219 Châtelaine (Geneva), Switzerland; telephone: (41 22) 979 9111; fax: (41 22)
797 3454
PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT: The fifth session of the INC for the preparation of an international
legally binding instrument for the application of a prior informed consent procedure for
certain hazardous chemicals in international trade (INC-5) is scheduled for 9 - 14 March in
Brussels, Belgium at the European Parliament facility. A diplomatic conference with a short
preparatory INC session is envisaged in Rotterdam, the Netherlands for March or April 1998,
but pending the outcome of INC-5, may be delayed until June. For more information contact:
UNEP Chemicals (IRPTC); tel: +41 (22) 979-9111; fax: +41 (22) 797-3460; e-mail:
IRPTC@unep.ch; Internet:http://irptc.unep.ch/.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PESTICIDE USE OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES - IMPACT ON HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENT: This meeting, scheduled from 23 February - 1 March 1998 in San Jose, Costa
Rica, will discuss and exchange knowledge about pesticides concerning their impact on the
environment, impact on health, economic issues, regulations, policies and clean technology
in developing countries. For information contact Yamileth Astorga, PPUNA, Universidad
Nacional, Apdo. 86-3000 Heredia, Costa Rica; tel: +506-277-3584; fax: +506- 277-3583; e-
mail: ppuna@irazu.una.ac.cr
INTERGOVERNMENTAL FORUM ON CHEMICAL SAFETY: Japan offered to host ISG-3 in Tokyo in late
1998. Brazil will forward its decision to host FORUM III, scheduled for late 2000, to the
IFCS as soon as possible. The Plenary also agreed tentatively to hold ISG-4 in 2002. Mexico
will host a working group meeting in 1997 for developing countries to discuss the sound man-
agement of chemicals. For information on these meetings, contact the IFCS Secretariat, World
Health Organization, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; tel: +41 (22) 791 3588; fax: +41 (22)
791 4848; e-mail: ifcs@who.ch.
PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS: The First Session of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee is tentatively scheduled for 28 June - 3 July 1998
in Geneva. Pending the progress of other meetings, the venue for this meeting may change to
Arhus, Denmark, and the date may change as well. The Second Session is tentatively scheduled
for 7-12 February 1999 in Geneva. For more information contact: UNEP Chemicals (IRPTC); tel:
+41 (22) 979-9111; fax: +41 (22) 797-3460; e-mail: IRPTC@unep.ch;
Internet:http://irptc.unep.ch/.
OCEANS AND COASTS
SYMPOSIUM ON THE SEA OF JAPAN: This meeting, "Green Earth, Clean Seas" will be held on 30
January 1998 and organized by Friends of the United Nations, in collaboration with the
Prefecture of Ishikawa of Japan. For information contact: Noel J. Brown, President, Friends
of the United Nations, USA; tel: +1 (203) 966 7842; Fax: +1 (203) 966 2305.
EXPO '98: The 1998 Lisbon World Exposition (EXPO '98) will be held from 22 May - 30
September 1998 in Lisbon, with the theme "The Oceans, a Heritage for the Future." For
information contact the Secretariat: e-mail: info@expo98.pt; Internet:
http://www.expo98.pt/pt/default.html
FOURTH INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM ON THE ROLE OF OCEAN SCIENCES FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT: This meeting will be held from 2 - 7 February 1998 in Okinawa, Japan. For
information contact: Prof. M. Terazaki, Center for International Cooperation, Ocean Research
Institute, University of Tokyo, 1-15-1 Minimidai, Nakono, Tokyo 164, Japan; tel: + (81 3)
5351 6528; fax: + (81 3) 5351 6530; e-mail: terazaki@ori.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
1998 OCEAN SCIENCES MEETING: This meeting will be held from 9 - 13 February 1998, San Diego,
CA, USA. For more information contact the AGU Meetings Department, 1998 Canadian
Hydrographic Conference, 2000 Florida Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009; tel: +1 (202) 462-
6900 or 1-800-966-2481 (in N. America); fax: +1 (202) 328 0566; e-mail:
meetinginfo@kosmos.agu.org; Internet: http://www.agu.org/meetings
CONFERENCE TO NEGOTIATE A FINAL PROTOCOL FOR THE WIDER CARIBBEAN CONCERNING POLLUTION FROM
LAND-BASED SOURCES AND ACTIVITIES: This meeting will be held in February 1998 in Kingston,
Jamaica. For more information contact: UNEP-RCU, tel: 1-876-922-9267, fax: 1-876-922-9292,
e-mail: uneprcuja@toj.com.
SEAVIEWS: MARINE ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT - OBLIGATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES: This meeting will be
held from 11 - 13 February 1998, Wellington, New Zealand. The conference will explore the
nature of ecosystem approaches to managing human impacts on the marine environment, and in a
participatory framework, will get people discussing their preferred futures for the sea, and
how to get there. For more contact: Cath Wallace, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and
Economics, School of Business & Public Management, Victoria, University of Wellington, PO
Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand; tel: +(64 4) 495 5233x8552; fax: +(64 4) 495 5084; e-mail:
Cath.Wallace@vuw.ac.nz.
OCEANOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 98 - THE GLOBAL OCEAN (EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE): This conference
will be held from 10 - 13 March 1998 in Brighton, UK and is sponsored by: Society for
Underwater Technology. For information contact: Spearhead Exhibitions Ltd, Ocean House, 50
Kingston Road, New Malden, Surrey KT3 3LZ, UK; tel: + (44 0181) 949 9222; fax: +(44 0181)
949 8186/8168;
e-mail: OI98@spearhead.co.uk; Internet: http://www.spearhead.co.uk.
ASIL REGIONAL MEETING ON THE LAW OF THE SEA: The American Society of International Law
(ASIL) regional meeting, "Building New Regimes and Institutions for the Sea," will be held
in Coral Gables, Florida, USA from 30 - 31 March 1998. The meeting is sponsored by the Law
of the Sea Institute and the University of Miami Inter-American Law Review. For information
contact Jennifer Leyva, +1 (305) 284-2468; e-mail: losi@law.miami.edu.
INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT TRAINING WORKSHOP: This workshop will be held from 20
March - 9 April 1998 at the Prince of Songkhla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand. For
more information contact: Coastal Resources Institute (CORIN); Prince of Songkhla
University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand; tel: +(66 74) 212800, 212752, fax: +(66 74)
212782; e-mail: corin@ratree.psu.ac.th; Internet: http://ratree.psu.ac.th/~corin.
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT: This meeting will be held from 25-29 March
1998 in Antalya, Turkey. For more information contact: International Association for Impact
Assessment; e-mail: isocarp@bart.nl; Internet: http://www.orl.arch.ethz.ch/CAMSeminar/
OCEAN ISSUES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: This meeting will be held from 30 March - 1 April 1998.
For more information contact Virginia Crowe, Associate Director, Wilton Park; tel: + (44
1903) 817 769; fax: + (44 1903) 815 931 and G. Kullenberg, IOC/UNESCO; e-mail:
g.kullenberg@unesco.org.
APEC WORKSHOP ON REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GLOBAL PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR THE
PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT FROM LAND-BASED ACTIVITIES: The US will host a Workshop
on Regional Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for Protection of the Marine
Environment from Land-Based Sources (GPA) as approved by the APEC Working Group on Marine
Resource Conservation (MRC) at their May 1997 meeting. The Workshop will be held at the
Sheraton Townsville Hotel & Casino in Townsville, Australia from 14 - 16 April 1998. For
further information contact: Susan Ware, Office of International Affairs, US National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 14th and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20230;
tel: +1 (202) 482-6196; fax: +1 (202) 482-4307; e-mail: susan.ware@noaa.gov. The full text
of the GPA can be found at:
http://www.unchs.unon.org/unep/gpa/gpapol2.htm.
IMO WORKSHOP ON WASTE MANAGEMENT AND MARINE POLLUTION PREVENTION IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN
AFRICA: This meeting will be held in April 1998 in Cape Town, South Africa. For more
information contact International Maritime Organization (IMO), 4 Albert Embankment, London
SE1 7 SR, UK; fax: +(44 171) 587 3210; e-mail: info@imo.org.
CARIBBEAN REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE GLOBAL PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE
MARINE ENVIRONMENT FROM LAND-BASED ACTIVITIES: This meeting is scheduled for May in
Kingston, Jamaica. For more information: UNEP-RCU, tel: +1-876-922-9267; fax: +1-876-922-
9292; e-mail: uneprcuja@toj.com.
UN CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA: The Eighth Meeting of States Parties to the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea - (SPLOS) will be held from 18 - 22 May 1998. The
Third Session of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf - (CLCS) will be held
from 4-15 May and the Fourth Session will be held from 31 August - 4 September 1998. The
International Seabed Authority - (ISBA) - Assembly will hold its fourth session from 16 - 27
March 1998 (first part) and 17-28 August 1998 (second part). The International Tribunal for
the Law of the Sea - (ITLOS) will hold its fourth meeting from 6-31 October 1998. For more
information contact the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal
Affairs; e-mail: doalos@un.org; Internet: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/.
1998 OCEAN CIRCULATION AND CLIMATE: The 1998 WOCE Conference will be held from 24 - 29 May
1998 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. For more information contact John Gould, WOCE IPO,
Southampton Oceanography Centre, Room 256/18, Empress Dock, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK; tel:
+ (44 1703) 596 789; fax: +(44 1703) 596 204; e-mail: woceipo@soc.soton.ac.uk; Internet:
http://www.soc.soton.ac.uk/OTHERS/woceipo/wconf/index.html.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN INTEGRATED COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT
(ICAM) - The Mediterranean Prospect: This conference will be held from 25-29 May 1998 in
Genoa, Italy by the International Centre for Coastal and Ocean Policy Studies (ICCOPS). For
information contact: ICCOPS Secretariat - c/o University of Genoa, Department Polis Stradone
di S. Agostino 37, 16123 Genoa, Italy; tel/fax: (39 10) 209 5840;
e-mail: iccops@polis.unige.it;
Internet: http://www.polis.unige.it/1998education/.
CONFERENCE ON COASTAL AND MARGINAL SEAS: This conference on 1 - 4 June 1998 at the UNESCO
Headquarters in Paris, France. The Oceanography Society (TOS) and IOC will organize this
meeting. For more information contact Judi Rhodes, TOS, 4052 Timber Ridge Drive, Virginia
Beach, VA 23544, USA; tel: +1 (757) 464 0131; fax: +1 (757) 464 1759; e-mail:
rhodesj@exis.net; Internet: http://www.tos.org.
SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MARINE POLLUTION AND ECOTOXICOLOGY: This meeting will be
held from 10 - 14 June 1998 in Hong Kong and is sponsored by the City University of Hong
Kong and the IOC. For information contact: Prof. Rudolph Wu, City University of Hong Kong;
tel: + (852) 2788 7404; fax: +(852) 2788 7406.
THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CLEAN OCEAN CONFERENCE: This conference will be held in Hawaii,
USA from 12 - 14 June 1998 and intends to celebrate Oceans Day in the USA and Hawaii. For
more information try
http://planet-hawaii.com/sos/clean_oceans.html.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION: The IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee
will hold its 41st session from 30 March - 3 April 1998 in London. The IMO Council will hold
its eightieth session in London from 15-19 June 1998. For more information contact the IMO,
4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR; tel: +0171-735 7611; fax: +0171 587 3210; e-mail:
rkohn@imo.org; Internet: http://www.imo.org.
PACON 98: The Conference on the 8th Pacific Congress (PACON) on Marine Science and
Technology, "Towards the 21st Century-The Pacific Era," will be held from 16 - 20 June 1998
in Seoul, Korea. For more information contact: PACON International, PO Box 11568, Honolulu,
Hawaii 96828-0568; tel: +1 (808) 956 6163; fax +1 (808) 956 2580; e-mail:
pacon@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu.
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON COASTAL MEGA-CITIES: This conference will be held mid-1998 in
Shanghai, China and is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Science and
Technology Commission, and the State Oceanic Administration of China, as well as the
Shanghai Municipality. For information contact: Li Haiqing, IOC, UNESCO; tel: +(33 1) 45 68
39 94; e-mail: h.li@unesco.org
PAN-AFRICAN CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT (PACSICOM): This
conference will be held in June-July 1998 in Maputo, Mozambique. The meeting Organized by:
UNESCO and the Government of Mozambique. For information contact: Robin Harger, IOC, UNESCO;
e-mail: r.harger@unesco.org or Miguel Clusener-Godt, MAB, UNESCO;
http://www.unesco.org/ioc/pacsicom/pacsicom.htm.
FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) FOR THE 21ST
CENTURY: This meeting will be held from 6 - 8 July 1998 in Udine, Italy. This meeting is
organized by the Wessex Institute of Technology, UK, and University of Udine, Italy. For
information contact: Sue Owen, GIS 98 Conference Secretariat; tel: + (44 1703) 293 223; fax:
+ (44 1703) 292 853; e-mail: sue@wessex.ac.uk.
INDEPENDENT WORLD COMMISSION ON THE OCEANS: The Independent Commission on Oceans will hold
its sixth session in Lisbon, Portugal in July 1998, in conjunction with EXPO'98. "The
Oceans: A Heritage for the Future." The Commission seeks to draw attention to the issues of
ocean development and encourage the further development of the ocean regime evolving from
UNCLOS. For information contact the Secretariat in Geneva; tel: + 41-22-710-0711; fax: +41-
22-710-0722; e-mail:
secretariat@world-oceans.org.
EUROMAT'98: The EUROMAT'98 Conference on Materials in Oceanic Environment will be held from
22 - 24 July 1998 in Lisbon, Portugal. The meeting is organized by the Sociedade Portuguesa
de Materials on behalf of the Federation of European Materials Societies. For information
contact: Prof. Luciano Faria; tel: +(351 1) 841 77 46; fax: + (351 1) 841 79 15.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SATELLITES, OCEANOGRAPHY AND SOCIETY (ICSOS): This conference
will be held from 17 - 21 August 1998 in Lisbon, Portugal. ESA, EXPO '98, IGBP, IOC, NASA,
NOAA, SCOR and WCRP will sponsor the meeting. For more information contact Dr. David Halp-
ern, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, MS 300-323, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
91109-8099, USA;
e-mail: halpern@pacific.jpl.nasa.gov.
INTERNATIONAL OIL SPILL CONFERENCE (SPILLCON'98): This meeting will be held from 17 - 21
August 1998 at the International Conference Centre, Cairns, Queensland, Australia. For
information contact Australian maritime Safety Authority; e-mail: michael.julian@amsa.gov.au
or j.morrison@meetingplanners.com.au.
SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PALEOCEANOGRAPHY (ICP-VI): This meeting will be held from
23-28 August 1998 in Lisbon, Portugal. This meeting is sponsored by EXPO'98, Instituto
Geológico e Mineiro (IGM), the European Commission and IOC. For information contact Dr.
Fátima Abrantes, IGM, Associaçao Portuguesa de Paleoceanografia; tel: 346 39 15; fax: 342 46
09.
COASTAL ZONE CANADA '98 (CZC'98): This meeting will be held over five days at the end of
August 1998. It is the third of a series of biennial conferences on integrated coastal zone
management. For information contact 2WE Associates, Victoria, BC; tel: +1 (250) 472-2254;
fax: +1 (250) 472-9475;
email: wilson@bc.sympatico.ca
THE ATLANTIC - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE: This meeting will be held from 30 August - 2
September 1998 in Lisbon, Portugal and will be organized by the International Geographic
Union. For information contact Prof. Carminda Cavaco, Centro de Estudos Geographicos (CEG);
tel: + (351 1) 796 5469 / 794 0218; fax +(351 1) 793 8690; e-mail: ceg@mail.telepac.pt;
Internet:
http://www.geocities.com/athens/acropolis/2510/index.html
AQUACULTURE EUROPE '98: This conference will be held from 5 - 9 June 1998 in Bordeaux,
France. For more information contact the EAS Secretariat, Slijkensesteenweg 4, B-8400
Oostende, Belgium; tel.: +(059) 32 38 59; fax: +(059) 32 10 05; e-mail: eas@unicall.be.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SATELLITES, OCEANOGRAPHY AND SOCIETY: This meeting will be held
form 17 - 21 August 1998 in Lisbon, Portugal. For more information contact: Dr. David
Halpern, Cal Tech; fax: +1 (818) 393-6720;e-mail: halpern@pacific.jpl.nasa.gov
FIFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON REMOTE SENSING FOR MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS: This
meeting will be held from 5 - 7 October 1998, San Diego, California, USA. This conference
will cover various aspects of remote sensing of the marine environment and will highlight
remote sensing applications focusing on solving real-world problems in marine and coastal
environments. For information contact: ERIM Conferences; tel.: +1 (313) 994 1200, ext. 3234;
fax +1 (313) 994 5123; e-mail: wallman@erim.org;
Internet: http://www.erim.org/CONF/conf.html.
SYMPOSIUM ON MARINE POLLUTION: This Symposium will be held from 5 - 9 October 1998 in
Monaco. It will be organized by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and co-sponsored
by the IOC, UNEP and IMO, in cooperation with: CIESM and the Marine Environment Laboratory
(MEL). For information contact the Conference Secretariat, Vienna International Centre,
Wagramerstrasse 5, PO Box 100, 1400 Vienna, Austria; tel: +(43 1) 2060 21312/21311; fax +(43
1) 20607, e-mail: Official.mail@IAEA.ORG.
COASTAL ENVIRONMENT 98: The Second International Conference (Coastal Environment '98),
entitled "Environmental Problems in Coastal Regions," will be held in Cancun, Mexico from 8
- 10 September 1998. The meeting will be organized by the Wessex Institute of Technology
(WIT), Southampton, UK. For information contact Liz Kerr, WIT; tel: + 44 (0) 1 703 293223;
fax: + 44 (0) 1 703 292853; e-mail: liz@wessex.ac.uk.
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN OCEANOGRAPHY: This Symposium (ITO'98)
will be held from 12 - 16 October 1998 in Goa, India. For information contact: Shri. Vishwas
Chavan, Organizing Secretary, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403004,
India; fax: +(91 832) 223 340/229 102; e-mail: ito98@csnio.ren.nic.in; Internet:
http://www.nio.org/ito98/
CONFRONTING UNCERTAINTY IN THE EVALUATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS: This meeting is scheduled for 16 - 19 November 1998 in Cape Town, South Africa.
This meeting is organized by ICES and co-sponsored by FAO and ICLARM. For information
contact Dr T.K. Stokes, CEFAS, Lowestoft Laboratory, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, England,
UK; e-mail: kevinstokes@compuserve.com; t.k.stokes@cefas.co.uk.
OCEAN COMMUNITY CONFERENCE '98: This conference is scheduled from 16 - 19 November 1998 in
Baltimore, Maryland, USA and organized by the Marine Technology Society (MTS). For
information contact ITCMS; tel. in US & Canada: +1 (800) 810 4333; tel. outside US & Canada:
+1 (732) 562 6826; fax: +1 (732) 981 1203; e-mail: mts-occ98@ieee.org; Internet:
http://www.noaa.gov/public-affairs/MTS98.html.
CLIVAR SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE - WORLD CLIMATE RESEARCH PROGRAMME: This conference is sched-
uled from 1 - 3 December 1998 and will be co-sponsored by IOC, WMO and ICSU. For more
information contact: Art Alexiou, IOC/UNESCO; e-mail: a.alexiou@unesco.org or Dr. Andreas
Villwock, International CLIVAR Project Office c/o Max-Planck-Institut fur Meteorologie,
Bundeststr. 55, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany; tel: + (49) 40 41173 414; fax: (49) 40 41173 413;
e-mail: andreas.villwock@clivar.dkrz.de; Internet: http://www.drkz.de/clivar/hp.html.
DESERTIFICATION
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM FOR ARID LAND CROPS (IPALAC): The IPALAC 1998 Calendar of Events
include: a course on Propagation of Woody Species in Kenya in February 1998; a course in
French on Date Palm Cultivation in Israel in June 1998; a workshop on Zizyphus mauritiana in
Zimbabwe in June 1998; a course on Rainfed Farming Systems in Semi Arid Regions in
Rajasthan, India, in September 1998; a symposium: "Silk - An Economic Opportunity for Semi-
Arid Africa" in Dakar, Senegal, in October 1998; and an international conference: "Plant-
Based Solutions for Combating Desertification" in Beer Sheva, Israel, from 2-5 November
1998. Contact: Mr. Arnie Schlissel, Administrative Coordinator, International Program for
Arid Land Crops, c/o Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer Sheva, Israel
84105; tel: +972 7 646 1905, 646 1972; fax: +972 7 647 2984;
e-mail: ipalac@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
SECOND CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES: COP-2 will be held in Dakar, Senegal. The suggested dates
are from 24 August - 4 September, but are subject to change. Contact: CCD Secretariat,
Geneva Executive Center, 11/13 Chemin des Anémones, CH-1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland;
tel: +(41 22) 979-9419; fax: +(41 22) 979-9030/31; e-mail:Secretariat@unccd.ch.
WETLANDS
RAMSAR: The 7th Ramsar COP is scheduled for San José, Costa Rica from 10 - 18 May 1999, and
will mark the first time that a Ramsar COP has been convened in a developing country. Also
for the first time, the 7th COP will focus on the interrelations between human societies and
wetland habitats. The general theme will be "People and Wetlands - The Vital Link."
Information can be found at
http://w3.iprolink.ch/iucnlib/themes/ramsar/index_cop7.htm. For more information contact the
Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland; tel +41 22 999 0170,
fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ramsar@hq.iucn.org;
Internet: http://w3.iprolink.ch/iucnlib/themes/ramsar/.
WILDLIFE
CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES: The Convention on Migratory Species Standing Committee will
hold its seventeenth meeting in Bonn from 3 - 4 February 1998. The Animals Committee will
meet in April. Second Meeting of the Parties to the European Bats Agreement under the
Convention on Migratory Species will be held from 1 - 3 July in Bonn. For information
contact the UNEP/CMS Secretariat; UN Premises in Bonn; Martin-Luther-King-Str. 8, D-53175
Bonn, Germany; tel: +(49 228) 815 2401/2; fax: +(49 228) 815 2449; e-mail: cms@unep.de;
Internet:
http://www.wcmc.org.uk/cms/.
CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES (CITES): The CITES Standing Commit-
tee will hold its fortieth meeting in London from 3 - 6 March 1998. For more information
contact the CITES Secretariat, C.P. 456, Geneva Executive Centre, 1219 Châtelaine (Geneva),
Switzerland; telephone: +(41-22) 979 9139/40; Internet:
http://www.wcmc.org.uk/CITES/english/index.html.
THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE LAW CONFERENCE: This meeting will be held on 31 March in
Washington, DC. Greenlife Society, North American Chapter, 52o8 Claremont Ave. - Suite B,
Oakland, CA 94716 USA tel: +1 (510) 658-4380, Fax: +1 (510) 658-5946,
e-mail: greenlifesociety@msn.com.
HABITAT AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
HABITAT AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS MEETINGS: The Second Global Forum of Parliamentarians on
Habitat will be held in Cancun Mexico and organized by the Global Parliamentarians on
Habitat from 27 - 30 January. "Cities and Cybernautics: Cyber Futures in Cities" will be
held in Calcutta, India from 6 - 8 February 1998. The International Symposium on City, Space
and Globalization will be held in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA and is sponsored by the
University of Michigan from 26 - 28 February 1998. The International Conference on Quality
of Life in Cities will be held in Singapore from 4 - 6 March. The World Conference on
International Cooperation of Cities and Citizens will be held from 26-29 May in Tokyo. The
First World Conference of Health and the Urban Environment will be held in Madrid from 6 -
10 July 1998. For information contact UN Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), P.O. Box
30030, Nairobi, Kenya; tel: +(254-2) 624328; fax: +(254-2) 624266/624267; e-mail:
infohabitat@igc.apc.org;
Internet: http://www.unhabitat.org
URBANIZATION OBSERVED - WORKSHOP ON EUROPEAN RESEARCH IN THE SOUTH: This meeting will be
held from 12 - 14 February 1998 in Berlin. For more information contact Klaus Teschner,
Habitat Unit, Department of Architecture, Technical University of Berlin; tel: +49 30
31421905/6; fax: +49 30 31421907; e-mail: tesc0831@mailszrz.zrz.tu-berlin.de; Internet:
http://obelix.polito.it/forum/n-aerus/docs/berlin_conference.htm.
FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON URBAN TRANSPORT AND THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY:
This meeting will be held from 31 August - 2 September 1998 in Lisbon, Portugal in
conjunction with the Sixth International Conference on Computer Aided Design, Manufacture
and Operation in the Railway and other Advanced Mass Transit Systems. For information
contact Paula Doughty-Young, Conference Secretariat UT 98, Wessex Institute of Technology,
Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton, SO40 7AA, UK; tel: + 44 (0) 1703 293223; fax : + 44 (0)
1703 292853; e-mail paula@wessex.ac.uk.
1998 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST PRACTICES IN IMPROVING THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT: The
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and the Municipality of Dubai, U.A.E.
have announced the global call for submissions for the 1998 Dubai International Award. The
award intends to recognize and raise awareness of Best Practices: outstanding and
sustainable achievements in improving the quality of life in a rapidly urbanizing and
changing world. The Award is open to all organizations and individuals from the public and
private sectors and from civil society whose initiatives meet the criteria for a Best
Practice. The deadline for submissions is 30 April 1998. For more information contact: Dubai
Municipality, tel: +(971 4) 215555; fax: +(971 4) 246666; e-mail: dm@emirates.net.ae;
Internet: http://www.dm.gov.ae; or UNCHS (Habitat); tel: +(254 2) 624328/623029/623799; fax:
+(254 2) 623080/624266/624267; e-mail:bestpractices@unchs.org; Internet:
http://habitat/unchs.org/home.htm (Habitat home-page) or http://www.bestpractices.org (Best
Practices database).
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY: The GEF Council meeting will be from 30 - 31 March. The GEF
Assembly will be from 1 - 3 April. The NGO consultations will be on 29 March. All meeting
will be held in New Dehli. The Council will also meet from 4 - 6 November 1998 in
Washington, DC. Each meeting will be preceded by NGO Consultations. For more information
contact Marie Morgan at the GEF Secretariat; tel: +1-202-473-1128; fax: +1-202-522-3240;
Internet: http://www.gefweb.com.
UNEP: The Second Meeting of High Level Committee of Ministers and Officials will be held in
Nairobi, Kenya from 2 - 4 March 1998. High on the agenda will be the issue of UNEP reform in
the context of the on-going wider reform of the United Nations. Other issues on the
provisional agenda include freshwater, the future financing of UNEP. For more information
contact the Governing Council Secretariat; tel: +254-2-623411, fax: +254-2-623929, e-mail:
beverly.miller@unep.org.
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION: The WMO Executive Council will hold its fiftieth session
in Geneva from 16 - 26 June 1998. For information contact the Secretariat at 41, avenue
Giuseppe-Motta, 1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland; tel: +(41 22) 730 8314/15; fax: +(41 22) 733
2829; e-mail: ipa@www.wmo.ch; Internet: http://www.wmo.ch/.
INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT (IFAD): The IFAD Governing Council will meet
in Rome in February 1998. The IFAD Executive Board will meet in Rome in April 1998. For
information contact the Secretariat; e-mail: w.admin@ifad.org; Internet:
http://www.ifad.org.
UNDP/UNFPA: The UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board will hold its first regular session in New York
from 19 - 23 January 1998, its second regular session from 20 - 24 April 1998, and its
annual session from 8 - 19 June 1998. For more information contact UNFPA, 220 East 42nd
Street, New York, NY 10017, USA; tel: +1 (212) 297-5020; fax: + 1 (212) 557-6416; e-mail:
ryanw@unfpa.org;
Internet: http://www.unfpa.org/.
COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT: The Commission on Population and Development will
hold its thirty-first session in New York from 23 - 27 February 1998; The General Assembly
will convene a three-day special session from 30 June - 2 July 1999 to review and appraise
the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population
and Development (Cairo, September 1994). The Commission on Population and Development, which
is currently scheduled to appraise the implementation of the Programme of Action at its 32nd
session, will serve as the preparatory body for the special session.
COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: The Commission for Social Development will hold its
thirty-sixth session in New York from 10-20 February 1998. For information contact the
Secretariat; UN Plaza, Room DC2-1370, New York, New York 10017 USA; tel: + 1 (212) 963 6763;
fax: + 1 (212) 963 3062; e-mail: Internet: http://www.un.org/dpcsd/dspd/social.htm. Docu-
ments for the session can be found at gopher://gopher.un.org/11/esc/cn5/1997-98.
COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: The Commission on the Status of Women will hold its
forty-second session in New York from 2 - 13 March 1998. The Commission will monitor the
implementation of the following critical areas of concern of the Beijing Platform for
Action. For more information contact the Secretariat; e-mail: daw@un.org; Internet:
http://www.un.org/dpcsd/daw/csw.htm.
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS: Commission on Human Rights will hold its fifty-fourth session in
Geneva from 16 March - 24 April 1998. The Commission on Human Rights Working Group on
Arbitrary Detention will convene its twenty-first session in Geneva from 11 - 15 May 1998.
The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, will hold its fifty-fourth
session in New York from 11-15 May 1998. For information try
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/2/chr.htm
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE: The Human Rights Committee will hold its sixty-second session in New
York from 23 March - 9 April 1998. For information try
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/hrc.htm.
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES: The Committee on Natural Resources will hold its fourth
session in New York from 10 - 19 March 1998. For more information contact the Secretariat of
the Committee on Natural Resources; UN Plaza, Room DC1-0818, New York, New York 10017 USA;
fax: + 1 212/963 4340; Internet: http://www.un.org/dpcsd/dsd/natural.htm.
COMMITTEE ON NEW AND RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY AND ON ENERGY FOR DEVELOPMENT: The
Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development will hold its
third session in New York from 23 March - 3 April 1998. For information contact the
Secretariat of the Committee on New and Resources of Energy, UN Plaza, Room DC2-2220, New
York, New York 10017, USA; fax: + 1 (212) 963 1795; Internet:
http://www.un.org/dpcsd/dsd/energy.htm.
UNESCO: The UNESCO Executive Board will hold its one hundred fifty-third session in Paris in
April 1998. For more information contact UNESCO, 7 place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris, France;
+33 1 45 68 10 00; international: +33 1 45 67 16 90; Internet:
http://www.unesco.org.
UNCTAD: The Expert Meeting of the Commission on Enterprise, Business Facilitation and
Development will be held from 2 - 4 March, 20 - 22 April and 29 June-1 July 1998 in Geneva.
The third session of the Commission on Enterprise, Business Facilitation and Development
will be held from 23 - 27 November 1998 in Geneva. The Trade and Development Board will hold
its seventeenth executive session in March (one day) its eighteenth executive session in
June and its High Level Mid-Term Review from 5 - 16 October. The Expert Meeting on Existing
Regional and Multilateral Investment Agreements and their Development Dimensions will be
held from 1 - 3 April 1998 in Geneva.
The Expert Meeting of the Commission on Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities will
convene from 4 - 6 May, 3 - 5 June and 13 - 15 July 1998. The Commission on Trade in Goods
and Services, and Commodities will hold its third session 21 - 25 September 1998 in Geneva.
The third session of the Commission on Investment, Technology and Related Financial Issues
will be held from 14 - 18 September 1998 in Geneva. For information contact: the Office of
the Secretary of the Board; tel: + 41 22 907 50 07; fax: + 41 22 907 00 56; e-mail:
Awni.Behnam@unctad.org.
INTERNATIONAL LAW AND POLICY
COLLOQUIUM ON COMPARATIVE APPROACHES TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS: The
Colloquium on Comparative Approaches to the Enforcement of Environmental Regulations will be
held in New York on 6 March 1998. For more information contact: Ms. Joanna Askey, Colloquium
Editor, New York University Environmental Law Journal, 110 West Third Street, New York, NY
10012-1074, tel: +1-212-998-6560, fax: +1-212-995-4032.
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES ASSOCIATION: The International Studies Association (ISA) will hold its
Annual Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA from 17 - 21 March 1998. For information
contact: ISA Headquarters, University of Arizona; tel: + 1 (520) 621-7715; fax: +1 (520)
621-5780; Internet: http://www.isanet.org.
FOURTH INTERNATIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT: This meeting will be
held in Washington DC, USA from 7 - 10 July 1998. The conference is motivated by the
increasing need to combine ideas and research findings from different disciplines to enhance
our understanding of the interactions between the natural environment and human
institutions. For information contact: Kevin Hickey; tel: +1 (508) 767-7557/7296; fax: +1
(508) 767-7382; (508) 767-7382; e-mail: khickey @eve.assumption.edu; Internet:
http://www.assumption.edu/html/academic/conf/iicecall.html
READINGS
Compiled by Peter Doran,
University of Ulster, Derry, Northern Ireland; tel and fax: +44 1504 268403. e-mail:
pfdoran@ecology.u-net.com
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
"UNGASS has run out of steam." International Affairs, 1997, Vol. 73, No. 4, pp.641-654. R.
Sandbrook notes that the UN has made sustainable development one of its major objectives.
But the way in which this is being pursued is likely to result in the UN system becoming
increasingly marginalized in the process. Sandbrook suggests that far too much attention is
given to international debates rather than to national and regional processes. The results
of the UN Special Session (UNGASS) in 1997 were poor debate, in public at least, and a
return to the traditional North-South divide. Yet in many countries the enthusiasm for the
findings of the Earth Summit (UNCED 1992) and its follow-up is clear. What is argued here is
that governments need to sort out much more clearly what can and should be addressed at the
international level. Many of the major environmental issues, such as forest and biodiversity
loss, are basically national or local concerns. The development agenda and poverty have to
be addressed locally. Only when it is clear that individual countries and regions cannot
cope without international intervention, as happens in the case of climate change and the
international trade regime, should the matter be of concern to the UN at the center. The UN
could do more to foster this sense of subsidiarity in its affairs.
"Consumption: Challenge to sustainable development...or distraction ?" Science, 1997, Vol.
276, No. 5309, p.53. JR. Vincent and T. Panayotou (US) contribute this editorial on
environmental quality and economic growth.
"Local politics in a global era: Thinking locally, acting globally." Annals of the American
Academy of Political and Social Science, 1997, Vol. 551, pp.28-43. SE. Clarke and GL. Gaile
(US) believe that it is important, given the contested meanings of the local global context,
to see local political processes as more than a matter of new interests or claims prompted
by globalization or even new institutions such as public-private partnerships. They argue
that local politics in a global era are best understood in terms of the ideas, institutions,
and interests shaping local policy processes. They are shaped by the causal stories that
different groups and organizations use to politicize issues linking the local and the
global, to seek new institutional venues, and to promote some solutions over others. They
draw on national surveys in 1989 and 1996 of large and medium-sized American cities to
examine these causal stories about globalization and localism and the policy choices they
privilege. Five local strategies are especially salient: classic locational approaches, the
world-class community orientation, the entrepreneurial mercantilism strategy, asset-based
human capital strategies, and the sustainable development orientation.
"Engaging sustainable development: Some observations on progress." Progress in Human
Geography, 1997, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp.147-163. R. Munton (UK) believes that continuing
criticism of the term 'sustainable development' deflects attention from the political
project that has to underpin shifts in human behavior. It is more important to redefine
roles and functions of private and public institutions in ways that legitimate sustainable
actions in the belief that latent public support for environmental protection can be
converted into a widening of new but customary behaviors. A brief review of the UK
Government's response to the Rio declaration demonstrates faltering purpose, reinforcing and
reflecting public distrust of government and those commercial interests that benefit from
the status quo. Only very modest comfort can be taken from its limited initiatives which
range from the greater dissemination of information to the setting of some environmental
targets. The unwillingness of government to promote major fiscal or financial reforms or,
significantly, to decentralize power and initiative, or to recognize the limitations to
scientific knowledge when seeking the bases to 'rational' decision-making in the face of
uncertainty, reveal for the author the inadequacy of the steps taken so far.
"A Compass for sustainable development." International Journal of Sustainable Development
and World Ecology." 1997, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp.79-92. KH. Robert, H. Daly, H. Hawken, and J.
Holmberg (Sweden and US) note that the enlargement of complexity and effects of
environmental problems has increased the need for a 'compass' to point us in the direction
of sustainability. The four principles - System Conditions - which the authors have earlier
described, along with a step-by-step approach to meet them, is advocated. The System
Conditions are described as first order principles for sustainability: they do not cover the
whole area of sustainability; they are complementary i.e. they do not overlap; they are all
necessary; they are applicable at different scales and activities. The compass provides a
model that not only implies restrictions to business and policy-making but also suggests
opportunities from a self-interested point of view. The model makes it possible to foresee
changes regarding demands and costs on the future market. A number of business corporations
and municipalities already apply the compass as a guiding tool to the future market, asking
a set of strategic questions:
Does this measure decrease our dependence on lithospheric metals, fuels and other minerals -
primarily when waste from such materials are already accumulating in the atmosphere ?
Does this measure decrease our dependence on persistent unnatural substances, primarily when
such substances are already accumulating in the ecosphere ?
Does this measure decrease our dependence on activities which encroach on productive parts
of Nature e.g. long distance transport or other exploitation of green surfaces, over-
fishing, etc. ?
Does this measure decrease our dependence on using an unnecessary large amount of resources
in relation to added human value ?
"The realities of incorporating sustainable development into local-level planning: a case
study of Davidson, North Carolina." Cities, 1997, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp.219-226. DSK. Thomas
and OJ. Furuseth use a case study to illustrate some issues and challenges that occur when
trying to use sustainable development as a goal when creating a local land-use plan, and in
particular the different ways in which sustainability can be interpreted. It is concluded
that the meaning of sustainable-based planning and development must be guided by locally
framed community based needs and visions.
"Material flows vs. natural capital - What makes an economy sustainable ?" Ecological
Economics, 1997, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp.1-14. F. Hinterberger, F. Luks, and F. Schmidtbleek
(Germany) note that in the discourse about sustainable development, 'constant natural capi-
tal' is frequently referred to as a criterion for ecological sustainability. They ask: "What
is natural capital ?" The concept is analyzed by presenting arguments in favor of using the
term and different versions of sustainability (strong and weak). Subsequently, a critique of
the 'natural capital' concept is brought forward, from an ecological as well as from an
economic perspective. Following this critique, the use of material inputs and the material
input per unit of service (MIPS) as a measure for the environmental impact potential is
suggested. Dematerialization is understood to be an alternative management rule for
sustainability. In conclusion, a change of perspective is proposed. Due to the conceptual
and measurement problems associated with the 'constant natural capital' criterion (which
refers to a stock), it seems more reasonable from a scientific as well as from a practical
perspective to add flows (ie. Material inputs) to a decision criterion for whether a
development is sustainable or not.
"Development and infinity." World Development, 1997, Vol. 25, No. 9, pp.1421-1430. M. Pretes
(US) examines the links between development and the infinite, suggesting that the idea of
sustainable development is simply a means of extending the idea of development indefinitely.
Western society is viewed as operating under the "prime" symbol or "imaginary social
signification" of infinity and infinite development. The article then proposes an
interpretation of perception through the use of metaphor, arguing that metaphors shape
interpretations of development, and that contemporary ecological projects such as
sustainable development are largely metaphorical. The conclusions note that the mainstream
concept of sustainable development is inherently conservative and adds little to a clearer
understanding of nature-society relations and development policy.
"The ghost in the machine: Agency in "poststructural" critiques of development."
Anthropological Quarterly, 1997, Vol. 70, No. 3, pp.137-151. M. Everett (US) challenges
anthropologists inspired by the works of Michel Foucault who have described development as a
discourse imposed on the Third World by powerful western institutions.
"The community office: a logical extension of the electronic library." Electronic Library,
1997, Vol. 15, No. 6, pp.463-468. An account of the Crickhowell Innovations Forum attempt to
develop the concept of the Community Office as an intelligent human interface to encourage
personal, business and domestic telematic acumen of the individual, set against the
background of the sustainable development of local communities within the context of Local
Agenda 21.
BIODIVERSITY
"Buried epistemologies: The politics of nature in (Post)colonial British Columbia." Annals
of the Association of American Geographers, 1997, Vol. 87, No. 1, pp.3-31. B. WillemsBraun
(US) notes that postcolonial theory has asserted the need to carefully consider how present
day social and cultural practices are marked by histories of colonialism. The article
explores representations of the 'rainforest' and 'nature' in British Columbia, Canada, and
traces a series of 'buried epistemologies' through which neocolonial relations are asserted
in the region. The author is concerned to show that amid the current popularity of notions
like sustainable development, biodiversity management, ecosystem restoration, and so on -
which risk abstracting natural 'systems' apart from their cultural surrounding - it is es-
sential to recognize the colonial histories and neocolonial rhetorics that continue to
infuse 'commonsense' categories and identities like 'nature' and 'resources.'
"Inter-organizational collaboration and the preservation of global biodiversity."
Organization Science, 1997, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp.381-403. F. Westley and H. Vredenburg (Canada)
use grounded theory development research methods to examine collaborative processes in the
domain of global biodiversity preservation. The processes examined are those initiated and
convened by a subgroup of the Swiss-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature
known as the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission. The
global collaborative initiatives of the group suggest that extant theory on collaboration
may not adequately explain collaborative processes in so complex a domain as global
biodiversity preservation. Specifically, the authors suggest that in highly complex domains,
effective structuring of collaborative initiatives may take different forms. Propositions
about structuring of collaborations in complex domains are derived.
"Investing in biodiversity: an economic perspective on global priority setting."
Biodiversity and Conservation, 1997, Vol. 6, No. 9, pp.1219-1243. D. Moran, D. Pearce, and
A. Wendelaar (Malaysia & England) note that biodiversity investment priorities are a major
concern for funding agencies and Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity. They present a
cost-effectiveness index designed to rank global biodiversity investments addressing
weaknesses identified in several existing procedures.
"Biodiversity totalitarianism - IPRs as seed monopolies." Economic and Political Weekly,
1997, Vol. 32, No. 41, pp.2582-2585. V. Shiva contributes this editorial which begins with
the observation that farmers are still the major suppliers of seeds in India's agricultural
system. She argues that the real basis of farmers' rights is in the recognition of the
collective innovation by farming communities embodied in farmers' varieties, and evolving a
jurisprudence that protects and rewards this collective wisdom.
"Biodiversity, intellectual property rights and the GATT agreement - How to address the
conflicts." Economic and Political Weekly, 1997, Vol. 32, No. 43, pp.2814-2820. A. Kothari
and RV. Anuradha examine the impact of IPRs on biodiversity in general and specifically on
the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It also addresses the
broader issue of the relationship between the GATT/WTO Agreement and the CBD. It concludes
with a reflection on the choices available to ensure that the objectives of the CBD are not
undermined.
FORESTS
"The value of forests to world food security." Human Ecology, 1997, No. 1, pp.91-120. D.
Pimentel, M.McNair, L.Duck, M. Pimentel, and J.Kamil (US) assembled information on the
contribution and value of forests to world food security and assessed the role of forests
and non-timber products in the food system of developing countries. They estimated that
upwards of 300 million people annually earn part or all of their livelihood and food from
forests. A total of about $90 billion in non-timber products are also harvested each year.
Forests also help to protect land, water and biological resources, and they play an
important role in maintaining the productivity of agricultural and environmental systems.
"Valuing a global environmental good: US residents' willingness to pay to protect tropical
rain forests." Land Economics, 1997, Vol. 73, No. 2, pp.196-210. RA. Kramer and DE. Mercer
argue that although contingent valuation is the most common technique for valuing non-market
environmental resources, rarely has it been applied to global environmental goods. The study
uses CV in a national survey to assess the value U.S. residents place on tropical rain
forest protection.
"'Voodoo science' and common sense: Ways of knowing old-growth forests." Journal of
Anthropological Research, 1997, Vol. 53, No. 4, pp.443-459. TT. Satterfield (US) explores
loggers' and environmentalists' conflicts over old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest
by analyzing the alternative meanings behind invocations of 'science'. The appropriation of
science by environmental activists ensures that not all debates about public understanding
of science are lay versus expert ones. Understanding, instead, involves clashes between lay
groups each of which has ambivalent relationships to expert knowledge. Public knowledge thus
involves a triangular model of social progress where understanding is negotiated
dialectically among lay groups in response to expert knowledge. Competing ties to identity
are central to this process and can be analyzed as opportunities for social critique.
Broadly stated, grassroots timber advocates invoke their 'common sense' observations to
champion their roles as farmers of the forest, while environmentalists invoke a conception
of the forest as a complex system to promote a protective rather than productive approach.
"The sources of deforestation in tropical developing countries." Environmental Management,
1998, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp.19-33. L. Tole (UK) investigates key causes of tropical
deforestation using cross-sectional data for 90 developing countries for the period 1981-
1990. Regression results reveal that deforestation is associated with both development and
scarcity. Deforestation accelerates with expanding infrastructure, trade, debt, investment
in the human capital base, and resource-based economic expansion. On the other hand,
absolute and relative scarcities - manifested by growing population pressures, food and land
shortages, fuel wood dependency, and inequalities in access to land - are also key factors
in explaining forest loss. Thus, results point to a fundamental environmental conundrum:
Development is required if countries are to alleviate scarcity but is itself a major cause
of deforestation. Can countries balance development goals with forest protection ? Setting
aside the issue of its practical realization, the paper concludes that forest sustainable
development cannot be achieved by implementing simple technical improvements in land-use
practices alone. Securing the foundations for the sustainability of the forest base will
require that countries address the underlying social processes driving tropical forest loss
as well.
OCEANS
"The new frontiers of American fisheries governance." Ecological Economics, 1997, Vol. 20,
No. 3, pp.221-233. SS. Hanna (US) recalls that throughout history, America has viewed its
oceans as vast fishery frontiers. These frontiers are suffering depletion as large amounts
of fishing power combined with significant oceanographic changes are straining the limits of
sustainability. The new ocean frontier is not the promise of undeveloped resources but
rather the challenge of undeveloped sustainable governance systems. The paper discusses the
institutional transformation necessary to achieve sustainable governance. The first part
provides an historical overview of the American use of resources as frontiers. The second
part characterizes the frontier as an extreme form of resource use, contrasting it to its
opposite ideal, the commons. The third part outlines behavioral differences between the
users of frontiers and commons, the pioneers and shareholders. Building on the attributes of
resource management under the two ideals, the fourth part of the discussion focuses on the
necessary conditions and major challenges to developing the institutional capital required
for sustainable US fishery management.
FRESHWATER
"Sustaining Water, Easing Scarcity: a Second Update," by Tom Gardner-Outlaw and Robert
Engelman of Population Action International (PAI). This publication-which includes revised
estimates and projections of the amount of fresh water available to each person in most
countries from 1950 to 2050. By the year 2050, at least one in four of the world's people is
likely to live in countries blighted by chronic or recurring shortages of fresh water. While
population growth is slowing, the number of people living under water stressed conditions is
still expected to increase at least four-fold, to nearly 2 billion people, by the middle of
the next century. PAI's new Update uses the most recent UN population projections to arrive
at revised estimates of future shortages of renewable fresh water worldwide. For more
information contact: Andrea Calise, Population Action International; 1120 19th Street, NW #
550, Washington, DC 20036; tel.: +202-659-1833, Ext. 141; e-mail: acalise@popact.org.
OZONE PROTECTION
UNEP Publications on Ozone Layer Protection: The Industry and Environment office of the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP IE) has developed two new case studies. The first
collection of case studies, "Identifying Alternative Solvents", presents 21 case studies
documenting actual elimination of CFC-113 and 1,1,1-trichloroethane from industrial solvent
applications in companies from nine countries. The second case study collection, "Case
Studies from the Japanese Experience," documents the experience of 19 companies and industry
associations in converting to non-ODS technologies. For more information, contact: UNEP IE
OzonAction Programme, Tour Mirabeau, 39-43 quai Andre Citroen, Paris 75739 cedex 15, France;
tel: +(33.1) 44.37.14.50;+ fax: +(33.1) 44.37.14.74, e-mail:ozonaction@unep.fr;
Internet: http://www.unepie.org/ozonaction.html.
ON THE WEB
STUDY ON GEF'S OVERALL PERFORMANCE: On 31 December 1997, an Executive Summary of the Study
of GEF's Overall Performance was posted to the GEF Home Page at
http://www.gefweb.com/MONITOR/execsum.doc. The report presents the findings and
recommendations of the study, as requested by the GEF Council at its October 1996 meeting.
The study does not evaluate the performance of the GEF in terms of the impact of GEF
projects on the global environment, but is directed toward a set of issues related to
institutions, procedures and policies.
Regarding the provision of resources for the global environment, the report discusses, inter
alia, the leveraging of additional resources, particularly the private sector. Regarding
country-level issues, the report elaborates on the focal point system in recipient
countries, the requirement for projects to be country-driven and the contribution of GEF to
awareness of the global environment. The Study also addresses institutional issues, such as
the mainstreaming of the global environment by the Implementing Agencies, Cooperation be-
tween GEF and the conventions. Issues also considered are the GEF Project Cycle Procedures
and programming issues. The Study concludes with priority recommendations on, inter alia,
increasing private sector funding, strengthening the focal point system and the GEF
communications strategy
UN SYSTEM-WIDE WEB SITE: The Division for Sustainabl Development of the UN Department of
Economic and Social Affairs launched a UN System-Wide Web Site:
http://www.unsystem.org/agenda21/. This Web Site contains country- and issue-specific
information on sustainable development worldwide, with hyperlinks to relevant web sites
throughout the United Nations System, the Secretariats of Conventions and official web sites
of national Governments. For information contact: Mary Pat Silveira, Division for
Sustainable Development; tel. +1 (212) 963-8428; fax. +1 (212) 963-1267; e-mail:
silveira@un.org.
1998 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE OCEAN WWW SERVER: The IOC 1998 IYO webserver provides up-to-
date information on 1998 IYO activities around the world and can be found at
http://www.unesco.org/ioc/iyo/iyohome.htm. The IOC invites readers to send information on
activities planned for the International Year of the Ocean. For information contact: Iouri
Oliounine; UNESCO-IOC 1, rue Miollis, 75732 Paris Cedex 15, FRANCE; tel: + (33 1) 45 68 39
63; fax: + (33 1) 45 68 58 12; e-mail: i.oliounine@unesco.org.
WTO TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE: The Trade and Development Centre at http://www.itd.org/
was created to provide information to the community of Internet users who have a specific
need for information on trade as it relates to social and economic development. This site is
a joint initiative of the WTO and the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank.
Though designed primarily for use by individuals from developing countries, the site
welcomes any with an interest in its subject matter.
OECD INFORMATION ON THE MULTILATERAL AGREEMENT ON INVESTMENT: The OECD, at
http://www.oecd.org/daf/cmis/mai/environ.htm#7, presents "Foreign Direct Investment and the
Environment: An Overview of the Literature." The OECD prepared this paper for the
Negotiating Group on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. The paper addresses, inter
alia: environmental effects of FDI and other financial flows; environmental effects of FDI-
based technology development and diffusion; impact of environmental standards on investment
decisions by the firm; and the environmental effects of international competition for FDI.
TIEMPO CLIMATE CYBERLIBRARY: The Tiempo Climate Cyberlibrary published the December 1997
issue of Tiempo, at http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/tiempo/floor0/recent/. The edition includes
articles on: environmental degradation in Somalia; priorities for the South Pacific islands;
fog collection; and immediate reaction to the Kyoto Protocol.
DEVELOPING IDEAS: The latest issue of "Developing Ideas Digest" on flooding is available on
the International Institute for Sustainable Development's IISDnet at
http://www.iisd.org/didigest/. The edition includes articles on: Natural Disasters - How
Natural?; Flood Risk Culture; Guaranteed Floods?; Flood Compensation: Perverse Subsidy?; and
Integrating River Basins. The issue also features: WordWatch, InDepth, Virtual Ideas,
LitScan and TrendWatch.
LINKAGES JOURNAL STAFF
Editor: Chad Carpenter, LL.M.
http://www.iisd.ca/chad/chad.html
Editorial assistance provided by:
Kira Schmidt
Pamela Chasek
Managing Editor: Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI
http:/www.iisd.ca/linkages/kimo/kimo.html
Advisory Panel: Wagaki Mwangi (Econews Africa)
John Waugh (IUCN)
Peter Haas, Ph.D. (University of Massachusetts at Amherst)
Kilaparti Ramakrishna Ph.D.(Woods Hole Research Center)
Submissions, corrections, request for subscription information and correspondence should be
sent to the editors at . The opinions expressed in /linkages/journal/ are
those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and our funders.
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